Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) powder represents a versatile synthetic polymer serving as the primary precursor for high-performance carbon fibers and finding diverse applications in membranes, textiles, and advanced composites. This acrylonitrile-based thermoplastic combines excellent chemical resistance, thermal stability, and processability, making it indispensable for aerospace materials, filtration systems, and protective textiles.
Material Overview
PAN consists of repeating acrylonitrile units [–CH2–CH(CN)–]n with molecular weight typically ranging from 50,000 to 200,000 g/mol depending on polymerization conditions [1]. The polymer exhibits glass transition temperature of 85-100°C and begins thermal degradation around 300°C, with the nitrile groups enabling subsequent conversion to carbon fiber through stabilization and carbonization [2]. PAN powder demonstrates excellent chemical resistance to most acids, bases, and organic solvents, while being soluble in polar aprotic solvents such as dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The material's density is approximately 1.17-1.18 g/cm3, with the polar nitrile groups providing strong intermolecular forces and good mechanical properties [3]. PAN powder can be processed via solution spinning, electrospinning, or melt processing after plasticization, enabling fabrication of fibers, films, and porous structures. The polymer's high carbon and nitrogen content (67.9% C, 26.4% N) makes it the most efficient precursor for carbon fiber production [1].
Applications and Advantages
PAN powder serves as the precursor for over 90% of commercial carbon fibers used in aerospace composites, automotive lightweighting, wind turbine blades, and sporting goods [2]. Ultrafiltration and nanofiltration membranes fabricated from PAN provide selective separation in water treatment, pharmaceutical purification, and food processing applications. The polymer functions in protective textiles and flame-resistant fabrics exploiting its inherent flame retardancy and char-forming behavior [4]. Electrospun PAN nanofibers create high-surface-area scaffolds for tissue engineering, drug delivery, and battery separators. The material serves as a binder and structural component in composite electrodes for lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors [3]. Emerging applications include PAN-based activated carbon fibers for air filtration and gas separation, conductive polymer composites for electromagnetic shielding, and precursors for silicon carbide fibers. The powder form enables additive manufacturing of complex geometries subsequently converted to carbon structures, opening new possibilities for lightweight structural components and thermal management systems.
Goodfellow Availability
Goodfellow supplies high-quality polyacrylonitrile powder in controlled molecular weight ranges to meet carbon fiber precursor, membrane, and advanced materials applications. Custom specifications are available to support specialized research and development needs.
Explore PAN powder and other advanced materials in Goodfellow's online catalogue: Goodfellow product finder.
References
- [1] Rahaman, M. S. A., Ismail, A. F., & Mustafa, A. (2007). A review of heat treatment on polyacrylonitrile fiber. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 92(8), 1421-1432. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2007.03.023
- [2] Frank, E., Steudle, L. M., Ingildeev, D., et al. (2014). Carbon fibers: Precursor systems, processing, structure, and properties. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 53(21), 5262-5298. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201306129
- [3] Lalia, B. S., Kochkodan, V., Hashaikeh, R., et al. (2013). A review on membrane fabrication. Desalination, 326, 77-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2013.06.016
- [4] Bashir, Z. (1991). A critical review of the stabilisation of polyacrylonitrile. Carbon, 29(8), 1081-1090. https://doi.org/10.1016/0008-6223(91)90024-D