Effect of temperature and activators on the characteristics of activated carbon fibers prepared from viscose-rayon knitted fabrics

This study used viscose rayon-based knitted fabric, pre-treated by a composite flame retardant, as the precursor. The fabric then underwent oxidation, carbonization and activation in a semi-open high-temperature erect furnace to produce Activated Carbon Fabrics (ACF). The microstructure and chemical properties of the ACF were obtained under carbonization temperatures of 600–1000 °C and by different activation sources. The results showed that the ACF produced was mainly of a microporous structure. When the carbonization temperature was increased, the production rate dropped while both the true density (DHe) and crystallization thickness increased. In addition, ACF prepared using steam, plus water as the activation source, has a larger specific surface area, greater crystallization thickness and a higher true density (DHe).