What is PAN based carbon fiber?

Carbon fiber is often time produced using two main methods: through the use of Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and from pitch. Pitch is a viscoelastic material that is composed of aromatic hydrocarbons. Pitch is produced via the distillation of carbon-based materials, such as plants, crude oil, and coal.

What is PAN precursor?

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN), also known as polyvinyl cyanide and Creslan 61, is a synthetic, semicrystalline organic polymer resin, with the linear formula (C3H3N)n. Though it is thermoplastic, it does not melt under normal conditions. PAN fibers are the chemical precursor of very high-quality carbon fiber.

How do you make polyacrylonitrile?

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) is produced by the additional polymerization of acrylonitrile; always, the second and the third monomers are used for the modification of dyeability and spinnability.

How is PAN carbon fiber made?

About 90% of the carbon fibers produced are made from polyacrylonitrile (PAN). The process for making carbon fibers is part chemical and part mechanical. The precursor is drawn into long strands or fibers and then heated to a very high temperature without allowing it to come in contact with oxygen.

Is carbon fibre better than aluminum?

Theoretically, carbon fiber is a much stronger material than aluminum, and will survive real world knocks and scratches much better. In practice, aluminum will survive everything you can throw at it.

What are the disadvantages of carbon fibre?

The first disadvantage of using carbon fiber is that you need a mold if you want to make a decent product, making a mold is not always easy and you often need the help of some specialist. Another disadvantage is the price of carbon fiber, it is very expensive. The material is very light and strong…

Why is carbon fibre so strong?

Why is carbon Fibre so strong? When carbon fiber is made, the tightly packed material is resistant to breaking due to its bonded structure. This makes the material strong despite its light weight. There are two primary ways to make carbon fiber, but polyacrylonitrile (PAN), is the most common precursor for carbon fiber.

Is Carbin fiber the same thing as fiberglass?

Carbon fiber is often confused with fiberglass , and while there are similarities in manufacturing and some crossover in end products like furniture and automobile moldings, they are different. Fiberglass is a polymer that is reinforced with woven strands of silica glass rather than carbon.