Hybrid composites based on carbon fiber/carbon nanofilament reinforcement
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Authors
Tehrani, Mehran
Boroujeni, Ayoub Yari
Luhrs, Claudia
Phillips, Jonathan
Al-Haik, Marwan S.
Subjects
Advisors
Date of Issue
2014
Date
2014
Publisher
Language
Abstract
Carbon nanofilament and nanotubes (CNTs) have shown promise for enhancing the
mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced composites (FRPs) and imparting multi-functionalities to
them. While direct mixing of carbon nanofilaments with the polymer matrix in FRPs has several
drawbacks, a high volume of uniform nanofilaments can be directly grown on fiber surfaces prior
to composite fabrication. This study demonstrates the ability to create carbon nanofilaments on the
surface of carbon fibers employing a synthesis method, graphitic structures by design (GSD),
in which carbon structures are grown from fuel mixtures using nickel particles as the catalyst. The
synthesis technique is proven feasible to grow nanofilament structures—from ethylene mixtures at
550 °C—on commercial polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fibers. Raman spectroscopy and
electron microscopy were employed to characterize the surface-grown carbon species. For comparison
purposes, a catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) technique was also utilized to grow
multiwall CNTs (MWCNTs) on carbon fiber yarns. The mechanical characterization showed that
composites using the GSD-grown carbon nanofilaments outperform those using the CCVD-grown
CNTs in terms of stiffness and tensile strength. The results suggest that further optimization of the
GSD growth time, patterning and thermal shield coating of the carbon fibers is required to fully
materialize the potential benefits of the GSD technique.
Type
Article
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Office of Naval Research (ONR), Grant No. 10960991
National Science Foundation (NSF), awards CMMI-0846589 and CMMI-1200506
National Science Foundation (NSF), awards CMMI-0846589 and CMMI-1200506
Funder
Office of Naval Research (ONR), Grant No. 10960991
National Science Foundation (NSF), awards CMMI-0846589 and CMMI-1200506
National Science Foundation (NSF), awards CMMI-0846589 and CMMI-1200506
Format
Citation
Tehrani, M.; Boroujeni, A.Y.; Luhrs, C.; Phillips, J.; al-Haik, M.S.
Hybrid Composites Based on Carbon Fiber/Carbon Nanofilament Reinforcement. Materials 2014,
7, 4182 4195.
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.