Boron nitride (BN) thin coating has been formed on the surface of chemically activated polyacrylonitrile (PAN) carbon fibers by dip coating method. The chemical activation of PAN fibers was carried out by two different chemicals, i.e. nitric acid (HNO(3)) and silver nitrate (AgNO(3)) solution. The chemical activation changes the surface properties, e.g. surface area and surface microstructure of the carbon fibers. These surface modifications ultimately influence properties of boron nitride coating on carbon fibers. The boron nitride coating on carbon fibers showed better crystallinity, strength and oxidation resistance when carbon fibers were activated by HNO(3). This improvement in strength and oxidation resistance is attributed to better crystallinity of boron nitride coating on HNO(3) activated PAN fibers. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved
