We report a water-based spinning process to produce polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-carbon nanotube composite fibers that contain a large fraction of nanotubes. The process differs from previous methods to achieve related materials because the spinning solution is injected in a static coagulation bath instead of being circulated in coflowing streams. The resultant wet spinning process is reminiscent of processes industrially developed for neat PVA fibers. Considering its robustness, the process is therefore expected to be easily scalable for greater production. The present method is based on the stabilization of nanotubes by appropriate surfactant molecules that allow the nanotubes to remain homogeneously dispersed in aqueous solutions of PVA. The obtained fibers are homogeneous, uniform in diameter, and can be spun indefinitely. They are electrically conductive and potentially useful for conducting textile applications. The present process being based on the colloidal stability of the particles in PVA solutions, it is believed that it could be extended to several other types of composite PVA fibers provided that the particles are stabilized by similar surfactants. V C 2011Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 125: E191-E196, 2012

Lignin is a promising bio‐based precursor for sustainable carbon fibers. Limiting factors for their development include the brittleness of lignin and the lack of large‐scale production routes. Here, a simple and economic wet‐spinning method, suitable for the fabrication of fibers based on softwood Kraft lignin (KL) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), is proposed. These two polymers reveal a partial miscibility in solution, and form metastable dispersions in solid state. KL‐PVA fibers are prepared at a weight ratio of 70:30 and are carbonized without thermo‐stabilization. A tailor‐made temperature program leads to a decreased microporosity on the fiber surfaces. The obtained carbon structures at 1000 °C are found to be poorly ordered, leading to only intermediate mechanical and electrical properties. However, graphitic domains appear at temperatures above 1500 °C and indicate a high potential for the system.

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