Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanoparticles in sizes ranging from approximately 100 to 500 nm were prepared by emulsion polymerization of acrylonitrile in a continuous aqueous phase in the presence of potassium persulfate (KPS) as initiator and sulfonate surfactants (SDS). The influence of various polymerization parameters (e.g., concentration of monomer and initiator, type and concentration of surfactant and solvent, temperature and time of polymerization) on the properties (e.g., size and size distribution, average molecular weight, etc.) of the particles has been investigated. The polymerization of acrylonitrile can occur within the surfactant micelles. A discussion concerning the role of this mechanism under different conditions, including comparison with previous literature, is also presented. The synthesized PAN as a precursor of carbon fibers with diameters in the range 100-400 nm were obtained by electric-spinning of PAN/DMF solution. The higher average molecular weight PAN was, the better uniform diameters of electrospun nanofiber webs were.
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