Dow Global Technolgoies LLC

Bryan E Barton

Mark T Bernius

Eric J Hukkanen

Zenon Lysenko

Jasson T Patton

Xiaoyun Chen

Gerald F Billovits

Disclosed herein are processes for preparing carbon fibers, comprising: sulfonating a polymer fiber with a sulfonating agent that is fuming sulfuric acid, sulfuric acid, chlorosulfonic acid, or a combination thereof; treating the sulfonated polymer with a heated solvent, wherein the temperature of the heated solvent is at least 95&#xb0; C.; and carbonizing the resulting product by heating it to a temperature of 501-3000&#xb0; C. Carbon fibers prepared according to these methods are also disclosed herein.

Two-step sulfonation process for the conversion of polymer fibers to carbon fibers

Disclosed herein are processes for preparing carbonized polymers, such as carbon fibers, comprising: sulfonating a polymer with a sulfonating agent that comprises SOgas to form a sulfonated polymer; treating the sulfonated polymer with a heated solvent, wherein the temperature of said solvent is at least 95&#xb0; C.; and carbonizing the resulting product by heating it to a temperature of 500-3000&#xb0; C.

Processes for preparing carbon fibers using gaseous sulfur trioxide

Disclosed here are processes for preparing carbonized polymers (preferably carbon fibers), comprising sulfonating a polymer with a sulfonating agent that comprises SOdissolved in a solvent to form a sulfonated polymer; treating the sulfonated polymer with a heated solvent, wherein the temperature of the solvent is at least 95&#xb0; C.; and carbonizing the resulting product by heating it to a temperature of 500-3000&#xb0; C. Carbon fibers made according to these methods are also disclosed herein.

Growing community of inventors

Midland, MI, United States of America

Bryan E Barton