Modification of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fiber by blending with N-(2-hydroxy)propyl-3-trimethylammonium chitosan chloride

N-(2-Hydroxy)propyl-3-trimethylammonium chitosan chloride (HTCC) was synthe sized by the reaction of glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (GTMAC) and chi tosan. The reaction product was a water-soluble chitosan derivative, and sh owed excellent antimicrobial activity. HTCC was blended with polyacrylonitr ile (PAN) using an NaSCN aqueous solution as a common solvent. The blend so lution was transparent and stable up to 6 months without phase separation. The PAN/HTCC blend fibers were prepared via a wet spinning and drawing proc ess. Thermal, electrical, and mechanical properties as well as antimicrobia l activity were investigated. It was found that the antistatic property and antimicrobial activity of the blend fibers could be achieved by adding onl y a small amount of HTCC. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.