Effect of Stabilization Conditions on the pH-responsivity of Polyacrylonitrile Gel Fibers

Polymer gel actuators swell/shrink in response to small changes in external chemical stimuli, providing kinetic energy for smart systems. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) gel fibersexpand/contract significantly in response to pH variations [1, 2, 3]. During thermal stabilization process cyclization,dehydrogenation and oxidation reactions change the linear structure of PAN to a cyclic structure, developing responsivity in fibers [4]. In this paper swelling behavior of PAN gel fibers stabilized at different temperatures was studied and optimum conditions for obtaining highest amount of swelling and response was determined. The determining factors for actuation behavior of PAN gel fibers were analyzed.