Midterm 1 Flashcards
Precursor of carbon fiber
PAN (polyacrylonitrile)
Carbon fiber manufacture steps
Precursor, oxidize, carbonize, graphitize, hot stretch, etch
Oxidization of carbon fiber temperature
200-300 C
Carbonization of carbon fiber temp
1000-2000 C
Carbonization of carbon fiber
Removal of oxygen and nitrogen from polyacrylonitrile precursor to form aromatic carbon
Graphitization of carbon fiber temp
> 2000C
Graphitization of carbon fiber
Converts aromatic carbon structure into graphitic structure with high modulus and low strength
Role of CF hot stretching
Increased strength by aligning graphitic planes
Role of CF etching
Preparation for bonding to resin in composites
Four modulus categories
Ultra-high modulus, high modulus, intermediate modulus, high tensile
UHM
> 450 GPa
HM
350-450 GPa
IM
200-350 GPa
HT
<100 GPa, ST > 3.0 GPa
Weave - UD
Unidirectional (no weave; plastic stitching).
Use of UD weave
Where principal loading predictable
Weave - plain
Checkerboard weave.
Weave - twill
Skipping weave.
Example: 2x2 twill weave
Each fiber passes over 2 fibers and under 2 fibers
Weave - harness satin
Each fiber passes over n and under 1
Example: 4HS weave
Each fiber passes over 4 and under 1 fiber
Tow
Larger strip of carbon fiber consisting of many individual filaments
Tow notation
nk, denoting n thousands of fibers per tow
Significance of tow counts
Low tow counts are difficult to manufacture and more expensive
Significance of bulk factor
Large bulk factors lead to wrinkling
Factors that contribute to bulk factor
Vacuum compaction, curing shrinkage, resin infiltration into fibers