Reinforcing carbon fibers

Reinforcing carbon fibers from poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN)-fibers ... 

In a similar approach, it is not the monomer, but a solution of the prefabricated polymer (polyacrylonibile in this case) in DMF that is being used. Herein the SWNTs are very finely dispersed. The product then also contains nano tubes aligned in the fiber s longitudinal direction. Another procedure resembles the method of producing carbon fibers from PAN (Section 1.2.3). Here the composite fibers are carbonized to yield a material of nanotube-reinforced carbon fibers. At a nanotube portion of as little as 3%, it already exhibits markedly improved mechanical properties. 

Vezie and Adams [15] examined PAN and pitch based carbon fibers with high resolution SEM. The onion skin layering of the carbon matrix surrounding the reinforcing carbon fibers in a carbon-carbon composite is clearly shown in the SEM photograph (Figure 12.12). 

Figure 20.46 Effect of fiber type on composite flexural behavior of a reinforced carbon fiber cement composite.

Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (also CFM, CTFEP, PCTFE) Cresol-formaldehyde resins (also reinforcing carbon fiber) Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (also CEM, CTFEP, PCTFE) Elastomeric copolymer from epichlorohydrin and ethylene oxide... 

PSUs are available in opaque colors and in mineral-filled and glass- and other reinforced compounds to provide higher strength, stiffness, and thermal stability. For example, reinforced carbon-fiber PSU is used in human hip joints. 

CF cresol-formaldehyde resins (also reinforcing carbon fiber)... 

Cost is another area in which composites have suffered. Resin prices have continued to trend upward as well as glass reinforcements. Carbon fiber introduction is continually slowed by the cost impact of its use. Technology usually comes at a price but just maintaining cmrent materials is having a negative impact as to cost. 

The results presented below were obtained using a 2 mm thick carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composite laminate with 16 layers. The laminate was quasi isotropic with fiber orientations 0°, 90° and 45°. The laminate had an average porosity content of approximately 1.7%. The object was divided in a training area and an evaluation area. The model parameters were determined by data solely from the training area. Both ultrasound tranducers used in the experiment had a center frequency of 21 MHz and a 6 dB bandwidth of 70%. 

Carbon-Carbon Composites. Carbon—carbon composites are simply described as a carbon fiber reinforcement in one or many directions using a carbon or graphite matrix material (see Composite materials). 

For nosetip materials 3-directional-reinforced (3D) carbon preforms are formed using small cell sizes for uniform ablation and small pore size. Figure 5 shows typical unit cell dimensions for two of the most common 3D nosetip materials. Carbon-carbon woven preforms have been made with a variety of cell dimensions for different appHcations (27—33). Fibers common to these composites include rayon, polyacrylonitrile, and pitch precursor carbon fibers. Strength of these fibers ranges from 1 to 5 GPa (145,000—725,000 psi) and modulus ranges from 300 to 800 GPa. 

High performance composites may be laminates wherein veils of carbon fiber ate treated with an epoxy resin, stacked up to the desired final product thickness, and then laminated together under heat and pressure (see Composite materials Carbon and graphite fibers). Simply mixing together carbon or glass fibers and polymeric resins to form a reinforced plastic leads to a composite material, but this is not a laminate if not constmcted from discrete phes. 

Other reinforcements that may be used in the substrate layers of decorative laminates and throughout the stmcture of industrial laminates are woven fabrics of glass or canvas and nonwoven fabrics of various polymeric monofilaments such as polyester, nylon, or carbon fibers. Woven and nonwoven fabrics tend to be much stronger than paper and have much more uniform strength throughout the x—y plane. They greatly enhance properties of laminates such as impact and tear strength. 

Electronic-Grade MMCs. Metal-matrix composites can be tailored to have optimal thermal and physical properties to meet requirements of electronic packaging systems, eg, cotes, substrates, carriers, and housings. A controUed thermal expansion space tmss, ie, one having a high precision dimensional tolerance in space environment, was developed from a carbon fiber (pitch-based)/Al composite. Continuous boron fiber-reinforced aluminum composites made by diffusion bonding have been used as heat sinks in chip carrier multilayer boards. 

Carbon-Fiber Composites. Cured laminates of phenoHc resins and carbon-fiber reinforcement provide superior flammabiHty resistance and thermal resistance compared to unsaturated polyester and epoxy. Table 15 shows the dependence of flexural strength and modulus on phenoHc—carbon-fiber composites at 30—40% phenoHc resin (91). These composites also exhibit long-term elevated temperature stabiHty up to 230°C. 

Many different thermosetting polymers are used in pultmsion, eg, polyester, vinyl ester, epoxy, and urethane. Reinforcements must be in a continuous form such as rovings, tows, mats, fabrics, and tapes. Glass fibers are the low cost, dominant composition, but aramid and carbon fibers are also used. 

Carbon Composites. Cermet friction materials tend to be heavy, thus making the brake system less energy-efficient. Compared with cermets, carbon (or graphite) is a thermally stable material of low density and reasonably high specific heat. A combination of these properties makes carbon attractive as a brake material and several companies are manufacturing carbon fiber—reinforced carbon-matrix composites, which ate used primarily for aircraft brakes and race cats (16). Carbon composites usually consist of three types of carbon carbon in the fibrous form (see Carbon fibers), carbon resulting from the controlled pyrolysis of the resin (usually phenoHc-based), and carbon from chemical vapor deposition (CVD) filling the pores (16). 

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