Blend fibers of polyacrylonitrile and water-soluble chitosan derivative prepared from sodium thiocyanate solution

A water-soluble chitosan derivative of N-(2-hydroxy)propyl-3-trimethylammon ium chitosan chloride (HTCC), synthesized by the reaction of chitosan and g lycidyltrimethyl ammonium chloride, and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) were blende d using 46% (w/w) NaSCN aqueous solution as a common solvent. The total pol ymer concentration of blend solution was fixed at 12% (wAv), and the relati ve composition of PAN/HTCC in the blend solution varied from 0/100 to 80/20 by weight. The PAN/HTCC blend fibers with the appropriate physical propert y were prepared by a wet spinning and drawing process. The effect of HTCC c ontent on the structural change, miscibility, and ability to be dyed of the blend fibers was investigated. The optical and scanning electron microscop ic observation gave no indication of phase separation up to 20% HTCC conten t. Differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical measurements of the blend fibers show single glass transition temperatures that increase w ith increasing blend ratio of HTCC. All the experimental results exhibit th at the blends are miscible on the molecular scale. The blend fibers could b e dyed with an acid dye. This enhanced ability of the blend fibers to be dy ed with acid dyes could be useful for one-step dyeing when mixed with other fibers, such as wool and nylon. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.