Conversion of acrylonitrile-based precursor fibres to carbon fibres

The physical and morphological aspects of the conversion of acrylonitrile-based precursors to carbon fibres are reviewed. The development of structure through the different stages of the process, namely precursor fibre formation, oxidative stabilization and carbonization, is described. The interactive contributions of process conditions and the precursor structures to the morphology and the properties of carbon fibres are discussed.