Structure and properties of mesophase pitch carbon fibre with a skin-core structure carbonized under strain

Coal tar mesophase pitch fibres stabilized at 270° C to different extents were carbonized under strain by the constant load or constant length, using different heating rates, and further graphitized at 2500° C. Shallow and moderate stabilization provided a skin-core structure in the resultant fibres which exhibited higher orientation, tensile modulus, and better graphitizability after calcination at 1300° C and graphitization at 2500° C than deep stabilization. The tensile strength and modulus of the graphitized fibre was significantly improved through the strained carbonization when the stabilization was performed to a moderate extent. The strain tended to give an onion-like alignment in the fibre to improve the preferred orientation of carbon planes. Larger load and more rapid heating during carbonization modified the structure and properties of resultant fibres through a significant longitudinal elongation. The stabilization extent of pitch fibres governs the mobility or fusibility of mesogen molecules at the carbonization which allows their better alignment by the strain.     

Comparison of batch and continuous oxidation processes for producing carbon fibre based on PAN fibre

Abstracts are not published in this journal This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

多孔碳化聚苯胺/碳纳米管的制备及性能研究

具有较高电化学性能的一种新型多孔碳化的聚苯胺包覆碳纳米管电极材料被成功的制备,它是先通过原位聚合形成聚苯胺包覆碳纳米管复合材料,然后在氩气条件下850℃碳化制得的。该电极材料在0.5A.g-1电流密度下和1mol/L H2SO4电解液中拥有209F.g-1的比电容,远高于相同条件下碳纳米管的比电容20F.g-1。这应该归因于该电极材料比表面积的提高和来自碳化聚苯胺层中氮原子掺杂诱导的赝电容效应,同时也说明了该材料在超级电容器应用中是一种比较有希望的电极材料。     

Oxidation protection for carbon fibre composites

Carbon fibre-reinforced ceramic matrix composites are promising candidate materials for high-temperature structural applications such as gas turbine blades. In oxidizing environments at temperatures above 400°C, however, carbon fibres are rapidly oxidized. There is, therefore, a need to coat the composite in order to protect it against oxidation. This review identifies the requirements of an effective oxidation protection system for carbon fibre-reinforced ceramics and summarizes the work which has been carried out towards this goal over the last 50 years. The most promising coatings are those composed of several ceramic layers designed to protect against erosion, spallation and corrosion, in addition to possessing a self-healing capability by the formation of glassy phases on exposure to oxygen.     

A method for the chemical anchoring of carbon nanotubes onto carbon fibre and its impact on the strength of carbon fibre composites

This article proposes an alternative way to use carbon nanotubes to improve the performance of carbon fibre-reinforced composites. A chemical process, based on esterification of surface groups, is used to anchor nanotubes onto carbon fibre surface. Anchored nanotubes form a network surrounding the carbon fibres. After CNT anchoring, the tow is impregnated with an epoxy resin and tensile tests are performed on this minicomposite sample. By enhancing matrix properties and fibre/matrix interface, the CNT network has a significant influence on the composite strength.     

激光对碳纤维及碳纤维/环氧树脂复合材料性能影响

采用高能激光束对聚丙烯腈（PAN）基碳纤维进行表面改性。利用SEM、EDS、FTIR、XRD、万能试验机等表征手段,对改性前后碳纤维微观形态、成分变化、物相结构、力学性能进行表征,系统地研究了激光束对碳纤维微观组织变化、性能变化等的影响规律,探索激光束对碳纤维的作用机制。结果表明,碳纤维经激光表面改性后,其表面的粗糙度和比表面积增加,碳纤维的浸润性得到提升,且激光束的功率越高、扫描速度越低,碳纤维浸润性越好。改性后的碳纤维化学成分、微观结构及官能团种类没有改变;改性后的碳纤维官能团种类没有改变,说明激光改性过程主要以物理过程为主;激光改性没有改变碳纤维的微观结构,改性后微晶尺寸略有减小,有利于改善碳纤维与环氧树脂的界面黏结性能。激光表面改性碳纤维/环氧树脂复合材料的拉伸强度和冲击强度均有不同程度的提高,当碳纤维质量分数为0.2wt%、激光改性功率为150 W时,碳纤维/环氧树脂复合材料的拉伸强度提高了59%,冲击强度提高了52%。     

Electrochemical doping of carbon fibre

Preliminary results are reported for the electrochemical synthesis of compounds formed by carbon fibre which are analogous to the ‘synthetic metals’ based on graphite and polyacetylene.     

Topography of carbon fibre surfaces

Scanning tunnelling microscopy (stm) has been used to study topographic features on carbon fibre surfaces. Operating at a resolution of several nanometres, stm has shown a systematic change in surface profile as a function of oxidative fibre surface treatment. The surface of the polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fibre can be seen to consist of graphitic platelets of dimensions 30 × 20 × 100 nm. The platelets protrude from, rather than lie parallel to, the fibre surface. Maximum exposure of the edge of the platelets occurs at a level of treatment known to give high chemical activity and peak interfacial shear strength. Superimposed on the platelets are slit-like pores lying transverse to the fibre longitudinal axis. At high levels of treatment average surface roughness increases dramatically, coinciding with a decline in interface bond strength.     

Growth of carbon nanostructures on carbonized electrospun nanofibers with palladium nanoparticles

This paper studies the mechanism of the formation of carbon nanostructures on carbon nanofibers with Pd nanoparticles by using different carbon sources. The carbon nanofibers with Pd nanoparticles were produced by carbonizing electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers including Pd(Ac)(2). Such PAN-based carbon nanofibers were then used as substrates to grow hierarchical carbon nanostructures. Toluene, pyridine and chlorobenzine were employed as carbon sources for the carbon nanostructures. With the Pd nanoparticles embedded in the carbonized PAN nanofibers acting as catalysts, molecules of toluene, pyridine or chlorobenzine were decomposed into carbon species which were dissolved into the Pd nanoparticles and consequently grew into straight carbon nanotubes, Y-shaped carbon nanotubes or carbon nano-ribbons on the carbon nanofiber substrates. X-ray diffraction analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were utilized to capture the mechanism of formation of Pd nanoparticles, regular carbon nanotubes, Y-shaped carbon nanotubes and carbon nano-ribbons. It was observed that the Y-shaped carbon nanotubes and carbon nano-ribbons were formed on carbonized PAN nanofibers containing Pd-nanoparticle catalyst, and the carbon sources played a crucial role in the formation of different hierarchical carbon nanostructures.     

Recycled carbon fibre for high performance energy absorption

This paper compares the mechanical properties of virgin and recycled woven carbon fibre prepreg and goes on to assess the potential for recycled carbon fibre reinforced plastic (rCFRP) to be used in high performance energy absorption structures. Three sets of material were examined: fresh containing virgin fibres and resin, aged which was an out of life but otherwise identical roll and recycled which contained recycled fibre and new resin. The compressive strength and modulus of rCFRP were approximately 94% of the values for fresh material. This correlated directly with the results from impact testing where rCFRP conical impact structures were found to have a specific energy absorption of 32.7 kJ/kg versus 34.8 kJ/kg for fresh material. The tensile and flexural strength of rCFRP were 65% of the value for fresh material. Tensile and flexural moduli of rCFRP were within 90% of fresh material and ILSS of rCFRP was 75% that of fresh.     

On the design,manufacture and testing of trajectorial fibre steering for carbon fibre composite laminates

Trajectorial fibre steering of composite tows within composite laminates has been investigated as a means of producing composite structures with increased strength. Strategies to design the fibre trajectories in laminates have included aligning the fibres with principal stress vectors and a newly developed concept of load paths. In the laminate, the steered plies were inter-mingled with unidirectional or fabric plies. A manufacturing technique for the steered plies has been proposed. Applications include a specimen containing an open hole and a specimen with a pin-loaded hole. Specific strength increases of 62 and 85%, respectively, were achieved.     

Critical fibre length and tensile strength for carbon fibre-epoxy composites

The tensile strength of epoxy resin reinforced with a random-planar orientation of short carbon fibres decreases with increasing temperature. This decrease may be estimated by the strain rate and temperature dependence of both the yield shear strength at the fibre-matrix interphase and the critical fibre length obtained by taking the distribution of fibre strength into consideration. The experimental value at room temperature is smaller than the calculated value. It is inferred that this result is attributed to the stress concentration caused by ineffective fibres produced during preparation which were shorter than the critical fibre length.     

Crystallization of carbon fibre reinforced polypropylene

Polypropylene (PP) was compounded with carbon fibre of various contents (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 vol%) using a single and a twin screw extruder. The influence of both the carbon fibre content and the compounding method on the thermal behaviour and characteristics of crystallization was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Melting and crystallization temperatures increased with the amount of carbon fibre. Isothermal crystallization was observed using DSC and it was found that crystallization was accelerated by the presence of carbon fibres. Using polarizing optical microscopy, it was found that the nucleation of polypropylene started at the crossing point of two or more fibres.     

Lightweight carbon fibre rods and truss structures

Lightweight carbon fibre rods and truss structures are of growing importance for modern transportation technologies. The struts of such frameworks are commonly designed as fibre-wound CFRP tubes. Here CFRP sandwich rods are an advantageous alternative. They have a lightweight foam core covered by a relative thin layer of composite material. In many real applications, however, the superior mechanical properties of such struts can only be utilized with appropriate load transfer elements. Two types of load transfer elements designed for high tensile and compressive loads with a simple screw connection will be described. The framework structures discussed in this paper refer to framework beams which have, in their simple version, cross-sections of an equilateral triangle. To realise a single point support at the ends of the beam-like truss, the rail struts must converge into a conical structure. The presented structures are connection designs without any metallic elements. An outstanding application of CFRP-trusses, rod connectors, and the mentioned formlocking load transfer elements can be found in the advanced lightweight structure of a recently developed semi-rigid airship, the Zeppelin NT.