EPR spectroscopic and X-Ray diffraction studies of carbon fibers with different mechanical properties

The carbon fibers obtained by carbonization of polyacrylonitrile fibers were studied by electron paramagnetic resonance and X-ray diffraction analysis in the range of small and wide scattering angles. Their elastic and strength characteristics were also studied. The concentration of the paramagnetic centers was correlated with the mechanical properties of carbon fibers. The wide-angle X-ray diffraction study did not reveal essential structural differences in the carbon fiber samples with different mechanical properties. At the same time, the small-angle X-ray scattering study showed that the fiber nanostructures with different mechanical properties differ substantially.