Introduction

Rheological Characteristics

Molecular Weight Analysis

Conclusions / Future Work

Acknowledgements & References

Synthesis, Thermal, and Rheological Evaluation of High C-Yield-Soluble 

Poly(phenylacetylene) Co-polymer Derivatives as New Carbon Fiber Precursors 

Olumide (Matt) Agboola, Joseph Sengeh, Houxiang Li, Wei Zhu, Dr. T.C. Mike Chung*

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16801 

The author would like to thank the US Department of Energy for the financial support. Thank 

you to the Dr. Ralph Colby group for training on the AERES-RFS3 rheometer.

1. Weise, B. A.; Wirth, K. G.; Völkel, L.; Morgenstern, M.; Seide, G.; Carbon N. Y. 2019, 144, 351–361.

2. Schwartz M.; Encyclopedia of materials, parts, and finishes. 2nd ed. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press; 2002.

3. Cato Anthony D.; Edie DD; Carbon, 2003, 41 (7), 1411-1417

4. Zhai, Y.; Dou, Y.; Zhao, D.; Fulvio, P. F.; Mayes, R. T.; Dai, S.; Adv. Mater. 2011, 23 (42), 4828–4850.

Analysis of Carbonized Precursors

Synthesis of Precursors

Schematic 1. Synthetic route to prepare 

poly(PAPA-co-PA) via (a) Metathesis (ZieglerNatta) copolymerization and (b) sonogashira 

coupling.

Figure 3. (a) Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) measurements of poly(PA) and its 

derivatives in THF at 25 C. (b) Schematic of SEC methodology.

➢ ReaxFF molecular dynamic simulations are used for observing 

stabilization and carbonization of polyacrylonitrile (PAN).

Thermal Analysis Results

Figure 2. (a) Dynamic TGA measurements in N2at 10 C/min for poly(PA) and its 

derivatives and (b) DSC trace of poly(PAPA-co-PA) 1:1 also in N2at 10 C/min.

Figure 4. (a) 1D integrated XRD profiles for poly(PAPA-co-PA) and poly(PAPA) carbonized in argon at 

1400 C. (b) Crystal size and d-spacing trends with respect to increasing temperature for poly(PAPAco-PA).(c) Raman spectra ( = 514.5 nm) of poly(PAPA-co-PA) carbonized in argon at 1400 C. (d) 

Intensity ratios of the D and G bands at corresponding temperatures for poly(PAPA-co-PA). 

Figure 5. Concentration dependent flow 

sweep rheological behavior of poly(PAPA-coPA) (1:1) in toluene at 22 C.

Microfiber Processing and Morphology

Figure 5. Depiction of electrospinning apparatus for (a) disordered and (b) aligned 

microfibers. SEM micrographs of iridium coated, (b) disordered (collected on flat glass slide) 

and (c) aligned poly(PAPA-co-PA) ~10 micron fibers from 35 wt% THF solution, 10 mL/hr flow 

rate, 15 kV, a distance of 30 cm, and onto a 15 cm diameter cylindrical drum at 10 RPM. (e) 

Schematic of ORNL wet-spinning apparatus. (f) and (g) Show optical micrographs of wetspun poly(PAPA-co-PA) (~100 micron) fibers.

Figure 1. 1H NMR spectra of (a) 

poly(4BrPa-co-PA) and (b) 

poly(PAPA-co-PA). 13C NMR of 

poly(PAPA-co-PA) (c) all in 1:1.

➢ TGA shows non-linear relation of the composition and the C-yield, 

which allows for the opportunity to minimize cost and maximize C-yield.

➢ Exothermic peak observed 1st but not 2nd cycle, indicating cross-linking.

➢ Arrow indicates the on-set of shear 

thinning, which is a requirement of 

wet or electrospinning

➢ Within desired zero-shear viscosity 

range for solutions w/ shear-thinning.

(a) (b)

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

(e)

(a) (b)

(f) (g)

J. Phys. Chem. B 2012, 116, 15, 4684–4692

➢ Measurements of TGA/DSC-MS to evaluate the molecules removed 

during the stabilization and carbonization.

➢ Reduction of fiber diameter and Mechanical properties of carbonized 

fibers are currently being tested and processed.