FTIR Study of the retardation effect of boric acid on the cyclization reaction of polyacrylonitrile

Abstract A retardation effect of boric acid on the cyclization reaction of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) was clearly observed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The Lewis acid nature of boric acid probably accounts for this retardation effect. A quantitative evaluation of this effect was also made, indicating two potential applications, i.e., high temperature stabilization and melt spinning, which are favourable for the cheap and fast fabrication of PAN-based carbon fibers.