Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Preparation and characterization of carbon felt/carbon composites by chemical vapor infiltration process

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Carbon Letters Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The current study was intended to synthesize and characterize the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of carbon/carbon (C/C) composites using the chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) process. To that end, carbon fiber felt (CF) was used as a preform, and methane and hydrogen were employed as reactive and carrier gases, respectively. After deciding on the optimum temperature (1050 °C), the composite samples were produced at different times (0–195 h). Then the samples were studied for their phase and microstructure characteristics using XRD, SEM, FESEM, FTIR, and Raman spectroscope. The results showed that by increasing the CVI process time up to 195 h, the density of the produced samples increased from 0.20 to 1.62 g/cm3, and the specific surface area decreased from 58.78 to 0.23 m2/g. Also, by increasing the process duration, the deposition rate decreased due to the reduction of the available surface for carbon deposition. In other words, due to the increase in density, and decrease in both porosity and specific surface area, the thermal conductivity coefficient and the bending strength of the samples increased. The composite specimens' SEM images of the fracture surface indicated a weak interface between the carbon fibers and the carbon layer developed by the CVI process. The structural analyses showed that the morphology of carbon growth during the CVI process was initially laminar, but changed to rough-laminar (RL) with the higher duration of the CVI process.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Open joint stock company.

References

  1. Park SJ, Kim BJ (2015) Carbon fibers and their composites. In: Park S-J (ed) Carbon fibers, vol 210. Springer, New York, pp 275–317

    Google Scholar 

  2. Wu X, Luo R (2011) Mechanical properties investigation of carbon/carbon composites fabricated by a fast densification process. Mater Des 32:2361–2364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2010.11.061

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Windhorst T, Blount G (1997) Carbon–carbon composites: a summary of recent developments and applications. Mater Des 18:11–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0261-3069(97)00024-1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Park SJ (2018) Novel carbon fibers and their composites. In: Park S-J (ed) Carbon fibers, vol 210. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0538-2_9

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  5. Morgan P (2005) Carbon fibers and their composites. CRC Press

    Book  Google Scholar 

  6. Lee J, Lee HI, Paik JG (2020) Thermal conductivities of a needle-punched carbon/carbon composite with unbalanced structures. Carbon Lett. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42823-020-00174-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Kim H, Chung GY, Koo HH, Baek WH (2004) Effects of process parameters for the preparation of C/SiC composites in the F-chemical vapor infiltration reactor. Korean J Chem Eng 21:929–934. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02705573

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Bang KH, Chung GY, Koo HH (2011) Preparation of C/C composites by the chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) of propane pyrolysis. Korean J Chem Eng 28:272–278. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-010-0352-y

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Hwang DG, Chung GY (2012) Studies on the effects of the concentration in the preparation of C/C composites by the CVI process of propane. J Ind Eng Chem 18:1136–1140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jiec.2012.01.016

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Ofori JY, Sotirchos SV (1996) Optimal pressures and temperatures for isobaric, isothermal chemical vapor infiltration. AIChE J 42:2828–2840. https://doi.org/10.1002/aic.690421013

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Xuefeng L, Jie Z, Kun Q (2019) Densification rate and mechanical properties of carbon/carbon composites with layer-designed preform. Ceram Int 45:4167–4175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2018.11.085

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Dietrich S, Gebert JM, Stasiuk G, Wanner A, Weidenmann KA, Deutschmann O, Tsukrov I, Piat R (2012) Microstructure characterization of CVI-densified carbon/carbon composites with various fiber distributions. Compos Sci Technol 72:1892–1900. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2012.08.009

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Delhaes P (2002) Chemical vapor deposition and infiltration processes of carbon materials. Carbon 40:641–657. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0008-6223(01)00195-6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Zhang J, Luo R, Zhang Y, Ni Y, Li J, Yang C (2010) Effect of isotropic interlayers on the mechanical and thermal properties of carbon/carbon composites. Mater Lett 64:1536–1538. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2010.04.013

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Guo L, Zhang D, Li K, Li H (2009) Fabrication of isotropic pyrocarbon at 1400 °c by thermal gradient chemical vapor deposition apparatus. J Wuhan Univ Technol Mater Sci Ed 24:728–731. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11595-009-5728-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Benzinger W, Hüttinger KJ (1999) Chemistry and kinetics of chemical vapor infiltration of pyrocarbon-IV. Investigation of methane/hydrogen mixtures. Carbon 37:931–940. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0008-6223(98)00248-6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Zhang SY, Yan XF, Li HJ, Li W, Guo LJ (2009) Deposition of pyrolytic carbon using ethanol as precursor in chemical vapor infiltration. Wuji Cailiao Xuebao [Journal of Inorganic Materials] 24:1073–1076

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Yan XF, Zhang SY, Li HJ, Li W, Zhang XM (2008) Carbon/carbon composites prepared by an ethanol pyrolysis. Xinxing Tan Cailiao [New Carbon Materials] 23:314–318

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Ren J, Li K, Zhang S, Yao X, Tian S (2015) Preparation of carbon/carbon composite by pyrolysis of ethanol and methane. Mater Des 65:174–178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2014.08.036

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Golecki I, Xue, L., Leung, R., Walker, T., Anderson, A., Dewar, D., Duncan, C., Van Horik, J (1998) Properties of high thermal conductivity carbon-carbon composites for thermal management applications. Paper presented at the 1998 High-Temperature Electronic Materials, Devices and Sensors Conference, 1998-February

  21. Luo R, Liu T, Li J, Zhang H, Chen Z, Tian G (2004) Thermophysical properties of carbon/carbon composites and physical mechanism of thermal expansion and thermal conductivity. Carbon 42:2887–2895. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2004.06.024

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Wang P, Zhang S, Li H, Kong J, Li W, Zaman W (2014) Variation of thermal expansion of carbon/carbon composites from 850 to 2500 °C. Ceram Int 40:1273–1276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2013.08.038

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. ASTM Standard C20-00 (2015) Standard test methods for apparent porosity, water absorption, apparent specific gravity, and bulk density of burned refractory brick and shapes by boiling water. American Society for Testing and Materials.https://doi.org/10.1520/C0020-00R10.2

  24. ASTM Standard E290-14 (1998) Standard test methods for bend testing of material for ductility. American Society for Testing and Materials. https://doi.org/10.1520/E0290-14

  25. Coffin IF (1964) Structure–property relations for pyrolytic graphite. J Am Ceram Soc 47(10):473–478. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1151-2916.1964.tb13793.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Guellali M, Oberacker R, Hoffmann MJ (2005) Influence of the matrix microstructure on the mechanical properties of CVI-infiltrated carbon fiber felts. Carbon 43:1954–1960. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2005.03.006

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Zhang M, Su Z, Xie Z, Chen J, Huang Q (2012) Microstructure of pyrocarbon with chemical vapor infiltration. Procedia Eng 27:847–854. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2011.12.530

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, 8415683111, Isfahan, Iran

    Hossein Elahi Davaji, Fatemeh Shamoradi, Masoud Panjepour & Mehdi Ahmadian

Authors
  1. Hossein Elahi Davaji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Fatemeh Shamoradi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Masoud Panjepour
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mehdi Ahmadian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Masoud Panjepour.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Elahi Davaji, H., Shamoradi, F., Panjepour, M. et al. Preparation and characterization of carbon felt/carbon composites by chemical vapor infiltration process. Carbon Lett. 32, 201–215 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42823-021-00267-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42823-021-00267-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation