Effect of jet stretch on polyacrylonitrile as‐spun fiber formation

In this article, the effect of jet stretch ratio on the extrudate die‐swell effect of polyacrylonitrile spinning solution and the structure and properties of as‐spun fibers was systematically analyzed by means of X‐ray diffraction (XRD), electron microprobe analysis, and the measurement of die‐swell ratio, boiling‐water shrinkage, porosity, mechanical properties analysis, etc. It revealed the formation mechanism of the die‐swell effect and spin orientation and its influences on the structure and properties of as‐spun fibers. It showed that with the increase of the jet stretch ratio the die‐swell ratio became smaller, both the degree of spin orientation and the crystallinity increased, the microstructure of as‐spun fibers became compact and homogeneous, and the cross section tended to be circular. As a result, the breaking tenacity of as‐spun fibers and resultant precursors all increased. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 3348–3352, 2007