Precursor Stabilisation Process
AssigneeDeakin University
InventorsStephen Paul Atkiss, Maxime Robert Maghe
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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.
Claims16
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 at a flow rate such that a temperature measured within 10 mm adjacent the precursor within the reaction chamber is within 402° C. of the temperature of the substantially oxygen-free gas.
A method of pre-stabilising a poly-acrylonitrile (PAN) precursor used to manufacture carbon fibre comprising reacting the PAN precursor in a 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 into the reaction chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.