Diffusion coefficient of DMSO in polyacrylonitrile fiber formation

Abstract A H 2 O/dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO) mixture was used as the coagulation bath for the wet‐spun process of acrylonitrile/ammonium itaconate copolymers fibers. Diffusion coefficient of DMSO in the protofibers prepared by acrylonitrile/ammonium itaconate copolymers was determined. It has been found that diffusion coefficient of DMSO outflow of the protofibers prepared by acrylonitrile/ammonium itaconate copolymers synthesized by the solution polymerization is highest compared with those of acrylonitrile/ammonium itaconate copolymers synthesized by H 2 O/DMSO mixture suspension polymerization and the aqueous suspension polymerization. With an increase of copolymer concentration in the dope, diffusion coefficient of DMSO decreases continuously. Diffusion coefficient of DMSO increases along with the bath temperature, but the changes of diffusion coefficient values are less prominent as temperature goes beyond 60°C. When DMSO concentration in the coagulation bath was 55 wt %, the value of the diffusion coefficient of DMSO was minimal. Diffusion coefficient of H 2 O increases with the jet stretch minus ratio increasing. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 4447–4451, 2006