Cellulose-based carbon fibers prepared using electron-beam stabilization

Cellulose fibers were stabilized by treatment with an electron-beam (E-beam). The proper-ties of the stabilized fibers were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier trans-form infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric anal-ysis. The E-beam-stabilized cellulose fibers were carbonized in N 2 gas at 800°C for 1 h, and their carbonization yields were measured. The structure of the cellulose fibers was deter-mined to have changed to hemicellulose and cross-linked cellulose as a result of the E-beam stabilization. The hemicellulose decreased the initial decomposition temperature, and the cross-linked bonds increased the carbonization yield of the cellulose fibers. Increasing the absorbed E-beam dose to 1500 kGy increased the carbonization yield of the cellulose-based carbon fiber by 27.5% upon exposure compared to untreated cellulose fibers. Key words: electron-beam stabilization, carbonization yield, cellulose fiber, cross-linked bond 1. Introduction