PREPARATION OF FLAME RESISTANT FIBERS FROM POLYACRYLONITRILE FIBERS

In this article, a continuous stabilization process was used to make f lame resistant fibers from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers. The effect of the stabilization time and the stretching process during the stabil ization process on the physical properties and flammability of the res ultant flame resistant fibers was studied. Increased drawing of PAN fi bers during the continuous stabilization process was found to decrease the diameter and increase the tensile strength in the resultant flame resistant fibers. These fibers also had higher density. There were no absolute relationships seen between flame-resistance and the formatio n of stable ladder polymers, density, and oxygen content.