Fabrication of a low density carbon fiber foam and its characterization as a strain gauge
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Authors
Luhrs, Claudia
Daskam, Chris D.
Gonzalez, Edwin
Phillips, Jonathan
Subjects
carbon nanofiber
viscoelastic
strain gauge
low weight
porous
electrically conductive
hydrophobic
viscoelastic
strain gauge
low weight
porous
electrically conductive
hydrophobic
Advisors
Date of Issue
2014
Date
Publisher
Language
Abstract
Samples of carbon nano-fiber foam (CFF), essentially a 3D solid mat of intertwined nanofibers of pure carbon, were grown using the Constrained Formation of Fibrous Nanostructures (CoFFiN) process in a steel mold at 550°C from a palladium particle catalysts exposed to fuel rich mixtures of ethylene and oxygen. The resulting material was studied using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDX), Surface area analysis (BET), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). Transient and dynamic mechanical tests clearly demonstrated that the material is viscoelastic. Concomitant mechanical and electrical testing of samples revealed the material to have electrical properties appropriate for application as the sensing element of a strain gauge. The sample resistance versus strain values stabilize after a few compression cycles to show a perfectly linear relationship. Study of microstructure, mechanical and electrical properties of the low density samples confirm the uniqueness of the material: It is formed entirely of independent fibers of diverse diameters that interlock forming a tridimensional body that can be grown into different shapes and sizes at moderate temperatures. It regains its shape after loads are removed, is light weight, presents viscoelastic behavior, thermal stability up to 550°C, hydrophobicity, and is electrically conductive.
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Article
Description
The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ma7053699
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Department
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
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Funding
This work was supported by Research Initiation Program of the Naval Postgraduate School and with funds from the Office of Naval Research, Force Protection Thrust, ONR Code 30.
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Citation
Materials, Volume 7, 2014, pp. 3699-3714; doi:10.3390/ma7053699
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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.