Thermally stabilized polyacrylonitrile/polyphenylene sulfide composite membranes for efficient emission control in harsh environments

In harsh and complex environments, the emission of polluted air poses significant challenges to traditional filtration systems. In contrast to conventional approaches which primarily involve the incorporation of antioxidants into filter materials, this study introduces a novel methodology. Here, we employed polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as a coating for polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) fibers. Furthermore, we innovatively utilized a needle punching process in conjunction with segmented heat treatment to manufacture PAN-PPS composite filter membranes capable of withstanding extreme environmental conditions. During the segmented heat treatment process, the molecular structure of PAN coating underwent a series of changes, ultimately transforming into a heat-resistant ring trapezoidal structure, providing protection for PPS fibers that are prone to oxidation, and thereby enhancing the structural stability of composite filter membrane. Experimental results demonstrated a significant improvement in the mechanical properties of PAN-PPS composite fabric after segmented heat treatment, with the tensile strength increasing by 71.7 % and the Young’s modulus by 91.6 %. Additionally, the flame retardancy and hydrophobic properties of composite membranes were significantly enhanced, exhibiting the excellent stability and better filtration performance in extreme environments. This approach not only addresses the challenges posed by incorporating nano antioxidants into the spinning process but also significantly enhances the high-temperature resistance of the materials. This enables PAN-PPS composite filter bags to effectively control the emission of polluted gases in extreme environments. Furthermore, the thermal treatment process of the PAN coating is easy to implement and cost-effective, providing a novel strategy for the development of extremely high-temperature resistant filtering materials. This makes it possible to explore the development of flexible, high-performance air filtering materials for extreme environments in the future.