Cyanogen polymers and pyropolymers and fibers thereof

Claim 3

A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said anodic deposit is purified by solvent precipitation.

Claim 4

A method, as recited in claim 2, wherein a high molecular weight fraction of said deposit is precipitated from a solution of said deposit in tetrahydrofuran by adding petroleum ether.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein said electrolyte is R 4 NBF 4 where R is selected from the group of C 1 -C 10 alkyls.

Claim 6

The method of claim 4 wherein said electrolyte is a mixture of at least two different salts.

Claim 7

The method of claim 4 wherein said solvent is acetonitrile.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 further including the step of: (3) pyrolyzing said anodic deposit at a temperature above 400° C. for a time sufficient to produce a pyropolymer characterized by a carbon-nitrogen ratio above 1.2, a room temperature conductivity of greater than 10 -1 ohm -1 cm -1 , and an activation energy for conduction of less than 0.03 ev.

Claim 9

A polycyanogen fiber spun from a polycyanogen comprised of ##STR6## units.

Claim 10

A polycyanogen fiber spun from a polycyanogen comprised of ##STR6## units.

Claim 11

A polycyanogen fiber as recited in claim 8, which has been pyrolyzed and which has a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio above 1.2.

Claim 12

A polycyanogen fiber as recited in claim 8, which has been pyrolyzed and which has a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio above 5:1.

Claim 13

A polycyanogen fiber as recited in claim 8, which has been pyrolyzed and which has a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of 10:1.

Claim 14

A polycyanogen fiber as recited in claim 8, which has been pyrolyzed and which has a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio above 10:1.

Claim 15

A polycyanogen fiber as recited in claim 8, which has been pyrolyzed and which has a resistivity of less than 9×10 -5 ohms meter.

Claim 16

Method of making a polycyanogen fiber comprising: (a) preparing a solution of C 2 N 2 in a soluble stable electrolyte in a polar organic solvent; (b) passing an electric current through said solution between an inert cathode and an inert anode, said current adapted to initiate polymerization in said solution; (c) allowing poly(cyanogen) formed thereby to deposit on said anode; (d) forming a concentrated solution of said poly(cyanogen) in an organic solvent therefor; (e) and spinning a fiber of said polycyanogen from said solution.

Claim 17

Method of making a polycyanogen fiber comprising: (a) preparing a solution of C 2 N 2 in a soluble stable electrolyte in a polar organic solvent; (b) passing an electric current through said solution between an inert cathode and an inert anode, said current adapted to initiate polymerization in said solution; (c) allowing poly(cyanogen) formed thereby to deposit on said anode; (d) forming a concentrated solution of said poly(cyanogen) in an organic solvent therefor; (e) and spinning a fiber of said polycyanogen from said solution.

Claim 18

A method of forming a pyrolyzed polycyanogen fiber comprising forming a polycyanogen fiber, as recited in claim 14 and heating said fiber in an inert atmosphere or in vacuo to a temperature above 700° C.

Claim 19

A method of forming a pyrolyzed polycyanogen, as recited in claim 15 wherein said polycyanogen fiber is heated to a temperature above 1,000° C.

Claim 20

A method of forming a pyrolyzed polycyanogen, as recited in claim 15 wherein said polycyanogen fiber is heated to a temperature above 1,500° C.

Claim 21

A method of forming a pyrolyzed polycyanogen, as recited in claim 15 wherein in step (d) of claim 14 said polycyanogen is dissolved in tetrahydrofuran.

Claim 22

A polymer of cyanogen comprised of ##STR7## units, having a molecular weight of at least 500, IR absorption peaks at 2220-2240 cm -1 and 1500-1600 cm -1 and C13 NMR peaks at 112-117 and 157-161 PPM in deuterated DMSO.

Claim 23

A polymer of cyanogen comprised of ##STR7## units, having a molecular weight of at least 500, IR absorption peaks at 2220-2240 cm -1 and 1500-1600 cm -1 and C13 NMR peaks at 112-117 and 157-161 PPM in deuterated DMSO.

Claim 24

A polymer as recited in claim 19 wherein said molecular weight is at least 1000.

Claim 25

A product formed by pyrolysis of a polymer as recited in claim 19.

Claim 26

A product as recited in claim 21 having a conductivity of greater than 10 -1 ohms -1 cm -1 .

Claim 27

A product as recited in claim 21 having a conductivity greater than 1 ohm -1 cm -1 .

Claim 28

A polymer as recited in claim 21 having an activation energy for conduction of less than 0/03 eV.