Manufacture and characterization of a layered carbon fiber material covered with carbon nanotubes

CHED 324

W. Jud Ready, jud.ready@gtri.gatech.edu1, Graham P Sanborn, gpsanborn@stumail.shc.edu2, Kirsten Keppel1, and Karl Gruenberg3. (1) Georgia Tech Research Institute, 925 Dalney St. Baker Building, Atlanta, GA 30332, (2) Department of Chemistry, Spring Hill College, 4000 Dauphin St., Mobile, AL 36608, (3) Milliken Research Corporation
In the past decade and a half there has been extensive research into carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and their possible applications. CNTs can act as metals or semiconductors (depending on the chirality) and have extraordinary strength and elasticity. One application of CNTs is their use as reinforcement in other materials, such as carbon fiber (CF). In this project, CNTs were grown directly on the CF substrate via evaporative iron film deposition and chemical vapor deposition. An epoxy-based composite of the CF material was prepared and the delamination strength determined. The improvement in fracture toughness of the CF composite was on the order of 40-50% and was accompanied by no loss in structural stiffness.
 

Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Nanotechnology
11:00 AM-1:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008