Apparatus and method for oxidation and stabilization of polymeric materials

Patent · Tue Aug 31 00:00:00 EDT 2010

OSTI ID:1013605

Paulauskas, Felix L ^[1]; White, Terry L ^[1]; Sherman, Daniel M ^[1]

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1. Knoxville, TN

An apparatus for treating polymeric materials comprises a treatment chamber adapted to maintain a selected atmosphere; a means for supporting the polymeric material within the chamber; and, a source of plasma-derived gas containing at least one reactive oxidative species whereby the polymer is stabilized and cross linked through exposure to the oxidative species in the chamber at a selected temperature. The polymer may be directly exposed to the plasma, or alternatively, the plasma may be established in a separate volume from which the reactive species may be extracted and introduced into the vicinity of the polymer. The apparatus may be configured for either batch-type or continuous-type processing. The apparatus and method are especially useful for preparing polymer fibers, particularly PAN fibers, for later carbonization treatments.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• Assignee: Ut-Battelle, LLC (Oak Ridge, TN); Sentech, Inc. (Oak Ridge, TN)
• Patent Number(s): 7,786,253
• Application Number: 12/466,092
• OSTI ID: 1013605
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English