Construction of a mathematical model of the relaxation and kinetics of thermal stabilization of a polyacrolnitrile fiber.

It is proposed that the Wiechert model be used to describe the structure of a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fiber. The model which is used includes a Hookian element and two Maxwellian elements with variable parameters. The temperature dependence of the parameters of the model are determined. The proposed method can be used to analyze and describe the structure of the fiber on the basis of indirect parameters and to predict the fiber's behavior during its deformation and heat treatment. In particular, the method can be used to determine the optimum elongation of a PAN fiber during its thermal stabilization as part of the process of carbon fiber production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]