Infusible polymer, polyacrylonitrile(PAN) could be melt spun by using water as a plasticizer at a pressured condition. The melting point of PAN was dropped with increasing of water amount. The equilibrium water content corresponded to the value calculated on the assumption that one nitrile group is combined with one water molecule. The PAN polymer used in the study showed an equilibrium melting point at 155oC and the equilibrium water content was 23wt% based on PAN.We made inorganic-organic hybrids by adding hydroxyapate(HAp) to PAN/water system to utilize adsorption properties of HAp against harmful heavy metal ions such as lead or cadmium in aqueous solution. As both PAN and HAp were fine powder form, physical mixing of them with water was carried out using a simple blade mixer. The melting point of PAN/water was not affected by addition of inorganic HAp. The processbility, however, was reduced due to HAp. Thus, more amount of water was needed with more amount of HAp.The mixtures of PAN/HAp/water showed good spinnability up to 50wt% of HAp. The hybrid porous fibers was obtained through the hydrated melt spinning using a spinneret having a diameter of 0.5mm. The porous bundle could be easily transformed to pulp-like fibrils which is very effective as sorbent. The pulp like structure exhibited excellent sorption power to lead and cadmium ions in water.

Preparation of fibrillated hybrid fibers from the hydrated melt of polyacrylonitrile/hydroxyapatite/water for sorption removal of heavy metals

247th National Meeting (2014)

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