Abstract: A carbonaceous fiber is prepared from a polyolefin fiber. The polyolefin fiber is stabilized and is treated with a silicon source. In one instance the silicon source is a siloxane. In one instance the polyolefin fiber is stabilized by sulfonation. In one instance the carbonaceous fiber has 90-100 weight percent Carbon, 0.1-1 weight percent Silicon, 0.1-1 weight percent Nitrogen.

Abstract: 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° C.; and carbonizing the resulting product by heating it to a temperature of 501-3000° C. Carbon fibers prepared according to these methods are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a process for producing a surface-treated fabricated article, the process comprising providing a polyolefin resin; converting the polyolefin resin to a fabricated article; crosslinking at least a portion of the fabricated article; and modifying the surface of the fabricated article with a sulfuric acid, fuming sulfuric acid, or chlorosulfonic acid-containing solution surface-treating agent to yield the surface-treated fabricated article. The present disclosure further describes a process for producing a surface-treated fabricated article comprising providing a polyolefin resin; converting the polyolefin resin to a fabricated article; crosslinking at least a portion of the fabricated article; applying a sulfuric acid solution to the fabricated article; and heating the fabricated article in air or an inert environment.

Abstract: A process for preparing a stabilized fabricated article from a polyolefin resin, the process includes incorporating functional groups in the polyolefin resin thereby yielding a polyolefin resin having crosslinkable functional groups. The polyolefin resin having crosslinkable functional groups is converted to a fabricated article. The fabricated article is chemically crosslinked thereby yielding a crosslinked fabricated article. The crosslinked fabricated article is stabilized in an oxidizing environment at an elevated temperature. The stabilized fabricated article thus produced can be prepared as a carbonaceous article by heating the stabilized fabricated article in an inert environment.

Abstract: A process includes treating a stabilized polyolefin fiber with a boron source followed by heating the fiber to a temperature 1000 degrees Celsius or higher in an inert atmosphere so as to convert the stabilized polyolefin fiber in to a carbon fiber.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for preparing carbonized polymers, such as carbon fibers, comprising: sulfonating a polymer with a sulfonating agent that comprises SO3 gas to form a sulfonated polymer; treating the sulfonated polymer with a heated solvent, wherein the temperature of said solvent is at least 95° C.; and carbonizing the resulting product by heating it to a temperature of 500-3000° C.

Abstract: Disclosed here are processes for preparing carbonized polymers (preferably carbon fibers), comprising sulfonating a polymer with a sulfonating agent that comprises SO3 dissolved 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° C.; and carbonizing the resulting product by heating it to a temperature of 500-3000° C. Carbon fibers made according to these methods are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Disclosed here are processes for preparing carbonized polymers (preferably carbon fibers), comprising sulfonating a polymer with a sulfonating agent that comprises SO3 dissolved 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° C.; and carbonizing the resulting product by heating it to a temperature of 500-3000° C. Carbon fibers made according to these methods are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for preparing carbonized polymers, such as carbon fibers, comprising: sulfonating a polymer with a sulfonating agent that comprises SO3 gas to form a sulfonated polymer; treating the sulfonated polymer with a heated solvent, wherein the temperature of said solvent is at least 95° C.; and carbonizing the resulting product by heating it to a temperature of 500-3000° C.

Abstract: 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° C.; and carbonizing the resulting product by heating it to a temperature of 501-3000° C. Carbon fibers prepared according to these methods are also disclosed herein.