Preparation and characterization of polyethylene-based activated carbon fibers stabilized at low temperatures

Abstract

This study introduces a method for preparing low-temperature-stabilized high-density polyethylene (HDPE)-based activated carbon fibers (HDPE-ACFs) by using a hybrid crosslinking method involving electron beam irradiation and sulfuric acid crosslinking. The HDPE fibers were primary crosslinked with an electron beam at radiation doses of 1000–2000 kGy before being secondarily crosslinked in sulfuric acid at 100 °C for 30–120 min. The hybrid crosslinked fibers were carbonized at 700 °C for 1 h and then formed into activated carbon fibers upon steam activation at 900 °C for 40–70 min. The surface morphology and structural characteristics of the HDPE-ACFs were observed via field-emission scanning electron microscopy, spherical aberration-corrected field-emission transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis. The pore characteristics were analyzed by using Brunauer–Emmett–Teller and Barrett–Joyner–Halenda equations. As the activation time increased, the specific surface area and total pore volume increased by up to 2090 m2/g and 1.30 cm3/g, respectively. Thus, activated carbon fibers with a high tensile strength value of up to 78 MPa and specific surface area of at least 2000 m2/g were successfully prepared.