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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/J18835/01
Title: THE DEVELOPMENT OF IMPROVED ACRYLIC PRECURSOR FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE CARBON FIBRES
Principal Investigator: Johnson, Professor D
Other Investigators:
McIntyre, Professor J East, Dr G
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Pre Nexus Migration
Department: Sch of Design
Organisation: University of Leeds
Scheme: LINK
Starts: 23 May 1994 Ends: 22 September 1997 Value (£): 167,269
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Materials Characterisation
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Manufacturing
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The collaborators intend to develop a new precursor polymer and derived fibre for carbon fibre production based upon an acrylonitrile copolymer in order to enable the industrial partner to establish in-house production facilities. The academic partner will study the solution polymerisation of acrylonitrile with selected co-monomers in dimethyl sulphoxide and the development of an air-gap wet- spinning process for making precursor fibres from the polymers. The suitability of these fibres for making carbon fibres will be studied by measuring the mechanical properties and structural perfection of the precursor fibres, by examining their pyrolysis in the academic laboratory, by pyrolysis and graphitisation in the industrial partner's premises, and by evaluating the morphology, mechanical properties, and suitability for rigid composite formation of the carbon fibres so produced. The industrial partner will build a pilot plant for precursor polymer and fibre production and the later stages of the project will include transfer of the technology from the laboratory to this pilot plant, with direct involvement of the academic research worker.
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.leeds.ac.uk