# US 12,180,619 B2 · Precursor stabilisation process > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,180,619 B2 - Document ID: US12180619B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/526,857 - Filed: 2023-12-01 - Published: 2024-04-18 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2023-12-01 - Assignees: Deakin University - Applicants: Deakin University - Inventors: Stephen Paul Atkiss; Maxime Robert Maghe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12180619B2 ## CPC - D01F 9/225: {from stabilised polyacrylonitriles} - C01B 32/05: Preparation or purification of carbon not covered by groups C01B32/15, C01B32/20, C01B32/25, C01B32/30 - C08J 5/00: Manufacture of articles or shaped materials containing macromolecular substances (manufacture of semi-permeable membranes B01D67/00 - B01D71/00) - D01D 10/02: Heat treatment (heating for finishing D02J13/00) - D01F 6/18: from polymers of unsaturated nitriles, e.g. polyacrylonitrile, polyvinylidene cyanide - D01F 6/40: Modacrylic fibres, i.e. containing 35 to 85% acrylonitrile - C08J 2333/20: Homopolymers or copolymers of acrylonitrile (C08J2355/02 takes precedence) - D01F: CHEMICAL FEATURES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBON FILAMENTS - C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C} - C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29) - D01D: MECHANICAL METHODS OR APPARATUS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS ## Abstract The invention relates to an improved process for forming a stabilised precursor that is suitable for the manufacture of carbon materials, such as carbon fibre. The process can convert a precursor comprising polyacrylonitrile into a stabilised precursor with greater efficiency. The invention also relates to a process for preparing a carbon fibre that utilises the stabilised precursor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A reactor for pre-stabilising a poly-acrylonitrile (PAN) precursor used to manufacture carbon fibre, the reactor comprising: a reaction chamber for pre-stabilising the precursor by heating the precursor in a substantially oxygen-free atmosphere as the precursor is passed through the reaction chamber under tension; an inlet for allowing the precursor to enter the reaction chamber; an outlet for allowing the precursor to exit the reaction chamber; a cooling zone adapted to remove heat from the pre-stabilised precursor before it exits the reactor; and a gas delivery system for delivering a flow of a substantially oxygen-free gas to the reaction chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The reactor according to claim 1, wherein the reaction chamber is adapted to provide a plurality of temperature zones. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The reactor according to claim 1, further comprising one or more heating elements for heating of the precursor at a desired temperature. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The reactor according to claim 3, wherein said heating elements are configured for heating the reaction chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The reactor according to claim 3, wherein said heating elements are configured for heating a flow of substantially oxygen-free gas that is delivered to the reaction chamber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The reactor according to claim 1, wherein the reactor comprises a plurality of said reaction chambers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The reactor according to claim 1, wherein said cooling zone is configured for flowing a substantially oxygen-free cooling gas over or around the pre-stabilised precursor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The reactor according to claim 1, further comprising an input seal chamber and an output seal chamber for the exclusion of oxygen from the reaction chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An apparatus for pre-stabilising a poly-acrylonitrile (PAN) precursor used to manufacture carbon fibre, said apparatus comprising: a reactor according to claim 1; and tensioning devices located upstream and downstream of the reactor for tensioning the precursor as the precursor is passed through the reaction chamber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the tensioning devices are for passing the precursor through the reaction chamber under a predetermined amount of tension. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A system for stabilising a poly-acrylonitrile (PAN) precursor used to manufacture carbon fibre, the system comprising: a reactor according to claim 1 for producing a pre-stabilised precursor; tensioning devices located upstream and downstream of the reactor for tensioning the precursor as the precursor is passed through the reaction chamber; and an oxidation reactor downstream from the reactor, the oxidation reactor comprising at least one oxidation chamber adapted to stabilise the pre-stabilised precursor in an oxygen-containing atmosphere as the pre-stabilised precursor is passed through the oxidation chamber(s). ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the tensioning devices are for passing the precursor through the reaction chamber under a predetermined amount of tension. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A system for manufacturing carbon fibre, the system comprising: the system according to claim 11; and a carbonisation unit for carbonising the stabilised precursor to form the carbon fibre. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system according to claim 13, wherein the tensioning devices are located upstream and downstream of the carbonisation unit, and wherein the tensioning devices are for passing the stabilised precursor through the carbonisation unit under a predetermined amount of tension. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, wherein the tensioning devices are located upstream and downstream of the or each oxidation chamber, and wherein the tensioning devices are for passing the pre-stabilised precursor through the or each oxidation chamber under a predetermined amount of tension.