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Title: Exploration of fibers produced from petroleum based-mesophase pitch and pet blends for carbon fiber production

Journal Article · · Journal of Polymer Research
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1]
  1. University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (United States)
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Petroleum-derived mesophase pitch and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were blended and melt-extruded to create precursor fibers. The raw blends, heat treated bulk materials, and fibers were all examined to determine compatibility between petroleum-derived mesophase pitch and PET. Thermal investigation of the raw blends showed the presence of both the pitch and PET in separate phases suggesting no interactions had occurred during mixing. Here, the heat-treated bulk material also showed multiple phases under polarized light while Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy indicated that the two materials did not fully separate during extrusion. Elemental scans of the precursor fibers showed areas of high oxygen concentrations averaging 11.7% as compared to a 2% oxygen concentration across the majority of the cross-section. Tensile tests of the precursor fibers showed a decrease in average modulus as compared to pure pitch fibers; however, the depressed modulus of the blended fibers was found to be independent of the PET weight percentage. Fibers created from 5 wt.% PET had a strength value within 10% of pure pitch and a 200% increase in modulus and were therefore found to be the most promising for carbon fiber production. Pure pitch and the 5 wt.% PET fibers were stabilized and carbonized to 1000 °C. Both types of fibers were tensile tested to determine their strength and stiffness. Pure pitch carbon fibers maintained a higher strength while the carbon fibers produced from 5 wt.% PET possessed a stiffer modulus which can be attributed to their radial microstructure.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO)
Grant/Contract Number:
EE0009239
OSTI ID:
1995782
Journal Information:
Journal of Polymer Research, Vol. 30, Issue 9; ISSN 1022-9760
Publisher:
Springer NatureCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
mesophase pitch
polyethylene terephthalate
carbon fibers
blended precursor