Preparation of antimicrobial polyacrylonitrile fibers: Blending with polyacrylonitrile-co-3-allyl-5,5-dimethylhydantoin

Polyacrylonitrile-co-3-allyl-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (Cop7-1) was prepared by a free radical polymerization process. The copolymer was blended with polyacrylonitrile (PAN) in a NaSCN aqueous solution, and the mixture was employed as a spinning solution. Rheological behavior of the spinning solution was studied. The PAN/Cop7-1 blend fibers were prepared through a two-stage wet spinning process. Tensile strengths of the blend fibers were lightly lower, but breaking elongations were higher than regular PAN fibers. Moisture regain and antistatic properties of the blend fibers were improved, while the thermal stability of the blend fibers decreased slightly. However, after treatment with 1% regular chlorine bleach, the blend fibers showed good antibacterial ability.