THE EFFECT OF STABILIZATION ON THE PROPERTIES OF PAN-BASED CARBON-FILMS

The stabilization process of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) films is necessar y for the development of high-quality carbon films. In this study, two samples of PAN films were stabilized at 220-degrees-C for 2 h and 6 h , respectively, and then carbonized up to 1300-degrees-C. The effect o f stabilization time on the physical properties and microstructure of the stabilized PAN films and the final carbon films is reported for th e first time in this article. The longer stabilization time not only i ncreased the amount of ladder polymer in stabilized films but also imp roved the physical properties of the resulting carbon films. The forma tion of closed pores from open pores in carbon films occurred at 1100- degrees-C. Carbon films processed with a longer stabilization time had a more densely packed carbon layer and higher electrical conductivity . Such carbon films also showed a markedly smoother surface after carb onization than did the films stabilized for a shorter duration.