Acrylonitrile (AN)-acrylamide (AM) copolymers were prepared by nitric acidic hydrolysis of homopolyacrylonitrile. The acrylamino group increased as a function of hydrolysis time, while crystallinity decreased. Differential scanning calorimetry and a thermal gravimetric analysis indicated that the acylamino introduced by acidic hydrolysis effectively enhanced the cyclization reaction at low temperature due to the change of the cyclization reaction mechanism. Char-yield of AN-AM copolymers also gradually increased with increasing hydrolysis time. The maximum char-yield was 49.48% when hydrolized at 23°C in 65% nitric acid solution for 18 h, which was 30% higher than that of non-acidic hydrolysis of homopolyacrylonitrile. Simulation of the practical process also showed an increase of char yields, where the char yields were 55.43% and 62.60% for homopolyacrylonitrile and copolyacrylonitrile, respectively, with a hydrolysis time of 13 h.

A new model and resultant equation for the coagulation of acrylonitrile monomers in precipitation polymerization are suggested in consideration of the surface tension (γ) and cohesive energy density (ECED). The equation was proven to be quite favorable by considering figure fittings from known surface tensions and cohesive energy densities of certain organic solvents. The relationship between scale value of surface tension (γ/M) and cohesive energy density of monomers can be obtained by changing the coagulation bath component for effective precipitation polymerization of acrylonitrile in wet spinning.