Process for preparing a carbon fiber precursor

Abstract

A process for preparing a carbon fiber precursor is hereby disclosed, wherein the precursor is selected from a series of solid PAN (polyacrylonitrile) fibers, wherein each member of the series contains about 0.5 mole % to about 8 mole % ammonium salt of 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid.

1 . A process for preparing a carbon fiber precursor, the process comprising:
 (a) obtaining a series of monomer mixtures, wherein each mixture of monomers comprises acrylonitrile and an ammonium salt of 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid;   (b) individually polymerizing the monomer mixtures to obtain a PAN polymer;   (c) individually spinning the PAN polymer to obtain PAN filaments;   (d) individually bundling the filaments to obtain a PAN fiber;   (e) individually analyzing the PAN fiber for a physical property, wherein the property is a member selected from the group consisting of: number of surface defects, interior homogeneity, degree of orientation, tenacity, number and size of micro voids, arrangement of crystallites on the surface, compactness of structure, and combinations thereof; and   (f) ranking the PAN fiber, wherein a most highly ranked solid PAN fiber is the carbon fiber precursor.   
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the acrylonitrile monomer is present in an amount of about 92 mole % to about 99.5 mole %, and the ammonium salt of 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid monomer is present in an amount of about 0.5 mole % to about 8 mole %. 
     
     
         3 - 7 . (canceled)