Mechanical properties and morphology of hot drawn polyacrylonitrile nanofibrous yarn

In this study PAN nanofibrous yarn was produced by two-nozzle conjugated electrospinning method. The nanofibrous yarns were drawn continuously in boiling water with drawing ratios of 1, 2, 3, and 4. The morphology of drawn yarns was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and tested for tensile properties as well as untreated yarn. The results showed that the nanofiber alignment in the yarn axis direction, the tensile strength, and tensile modulus of yarn increases as a result of drawing while the tensile strain and work of rapture decrease. X-ray diffraction patterns of the produced yarns were analyzed as well. It was found that crystallinity index increases as the draw ratio increases. (c) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011