Polyacrylonitrile

Chemical structure of the repeating unit of polyacrylonitrile

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) is a resinous, fibrous, or rubbery organic polymer. Almost all polyacrylonitrile resins are copolymers made from mixtures of monomers; with acrylonitrile as the main component. PAN fibers are the chemical precursor of high-quality carbon fiber. It is chemically modified to make the carbon fibers found in tennis rackets, badminton rackets & high-tech bicycles. It is a component repeat unit in several important copolymers, such as styrene-acrylonitrile or SAN and ABS plastic.

Applications

Homopolymers of polyacrylonitrile have been used as fibers in hot gas filtration systems, outdoor awnings, sails for yachts, and even fiber reinforced concrete. Mainly, copolymers containing polyacrylonitrile are used as fibers to make knitted clothing, like socks and sweaters, as well as outdoor products like tents and similar items. If the label of a piece of clothing says "acrylic", then it is made out of some copolymer of polyacrylonitrile. It was made into spun fiber at DuPont in 1941 and marketed under the name of Orlon. And acrylonitrile is employed as comonomer with styrene. (eg. SAN, ABS, and ASA plastics)

See also

• Styrene-acrylonitrile resin, copolymer with styrene

External links

• Polyacrylonitrile at Polymer Science Learning Center

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