Synthesis and characterization of Polyacrylonitrile (Pan) Nanofibers Reinforced with CNT and CNF prepared via Electrospinning technique

PAN electrospun nanofiber reinforced with and without nanomaterials were produced via electrospinning technique. The PAN polymer was dissolved in N, N dimethylformamide solvent with ratio 10% w/w of PAN to DMF. Four parameters were studied; working distance (5, 10, 15 cm), applied voltage (10, 12.5 and 15 kV), types of nanomaterials (CNT and CNF) and ratio of nanomaterials were used (2 to 10 w/w %). Then, the optimised parameter was used to produce the PAN/mixture CNT-CNF with assumed that the PAN fibers were produced will have a fine fibers diameter with high thermal stability and high conductivity. The morphologies study was carried out by using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), thermal stability was investigated by using Thermal Conductivity Analyzer (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC). While, the electro-conductivity properties of the PAN fiber were determined by using Impedance Analyzer (IA). From the studies, it was revealed that the PAN electrospun reinforced with mixture of CNT and CNF (ratio 5:3 and 5:5) show a highest electric-conductivity properties (4.8 x 10-4) with small fibers diameter (0.60-0.68 Jlm) and high thermal stability (60 - 65%)