Polyolefin-derived carbon fibers containing boron

Abstract

A process includes treating a stabilized polyolefin fiber with a boron source followed by heating the fiber to a temperature 1000 degrees Celsius or higher in an inert atmosphere so as to convert the stabilized polyolefin fiber in to a carbon fiber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process comprising treating a stabilized polyolefin fiber with a boron source followed by heating the fiber to a temperature of 1000° C. or higher in an inert atmosphere so as to convert the stabilized polyolefin fiber into a carbon fiber. 
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , further characterized by the stabilized polyolefin fiber being a sulfonated polyolefin. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , further characterized by the polyolefin being a copolymer of ethylene and octene. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , further characterized by graphitizing the stabilized polyolefin fiber without heating to temperatures greater than 1800° C. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , further characterized by the treating of the stabilized polyolefin fiber with a boron source including subjecting the stabilized polyolefin fiber to an aqueous boron source. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , further characterized by the boron source comprising boric acid. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , further characterized by treating the stabilized polyolefin fiber with a boron source by submersing the stabilized polyolefin fiber into aqueous bath of boric acid at a boric acid concentration of 0.1 moles per liter or more. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , further characterized by disposing sufficient boron on the stabilized polyolefin fiber so that the resulting carbon fiber has a boron concentration of one mole-percent or more.