Cellulose-lignin composite fibers as precursors for carbon fibers: Part 2 – The impact of precursor properties on carbon fibers

Abstract

Carbon fibers, despite being responsible lightweight structures that improve sustainability through fuel efficiency and occupational safety, remain largely derived from fossil fuels. Alternative precursors such as cellulose and lignin (bio-derived and low cost) are rapidly gaining attention as replacements for polyacrylonitrile (PAN, an oil-based and costly precursor). This study uses a cellulose-lignin composite fiber, to elucidate the influence of precursor fabrication parameters (draw ratio and lignin content) on the efficiency of stabilization and carbonization, from the perspective of the chemical, morphological and mechanical changes. The degradation of cellulose chains was the primary contributor to the decrease in mechanical properties during stabilization, but is slowed by the incorporation of lignin. The skin-core phenomenon, a typical effect in PAN-based carbon fibers production, was also observed. Finally, the carbonization of incompletely stabilized fibers is shown to produce hollow carbon fibers, which have potential application in batteries or membranes.