Commercial PAN fibers were thermally stabilized at 220 or 240℃ for 30 min. Those fibers were further stabilized using radio-frequency (RF) capacitive plasma discharge during 5 or 15 min. From Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results, it was observed that an additional plasma treatment led to further stabilization of PAN fibers. After stabilization, carbonization was performed to investigate the final tensile properties of the fabricated carbon fibers (CFs). The results revealed that a combination of thermal and plasma treatment is a possible stabilization process for manufacturing CFs. Morphology of CFs was investigated using scanning electron microscopy. The morphology shows that the plasma stabilization performed by the RF large gap plasma discharge may damage the surface of the CF, so it is necessary to select a proper process condition to minimize the damage.

• Seung-Wook Lee(PolymerHybrid Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University)
• Hwa-Young Lee(PolymerHybrid Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Republic of Korea and Nanomaterials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology)
• Sung-Yeon Jang(Department of Chemistry, Kookmin University)
• Seong-Mu Jo(PolymerHybrid Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology)
• Hun-Soo Lee(Institute of Advanced Composite Materials, Korea Institute of Science and Technology)
• Sung-Ho Lee(Institute of Advanced Composite Materials, Korea Institute of Science and Technology)