Use, Stabilization And Carbonization Of Polyacrylonitrile/carbon Composite Fibers

Abstract

In a method of making a carbon fiber, carbon nanotubes (CNT) are mixed into a solution including polyacrylonitrile (PAN) so as to form a CNT/PAN mixture. At least one PAN/CNT fiber is formed from the mixture. A first predetermined electrical current is applied to the PAN/CNT fiber until the PAN/CNT fiber is a stabilized PAN/CNT fiber. A heatable fabric that includes a plurality of fibers that each have an axis. Each of the plurality of fibers includes polyacrylonitrile and carbon nanotubes dispersed in the polyacrylonitrile in a predetermined weight percent thereof and aligned along the axes of the plurality of fibers. The plurality of fibers are woven into a fabric. A current source is configured to apply an electrical current through the plurality of fibers, thereby causing the fibers to generate heat.