Abstract
A comprehensive electron microscopic investigation of the structure of the graphitic sheet in mesophase pitch-based fibres is presented.In situ brightfield and (00l) darkfield observation of the sheets in sub micrometre fibres reveals a finely striated structure, associated with three-dimensional order. (hkl) darkfield imaging of the sheets in their edge-on and face-on orientations indicates that the striations correspond to the edge view of a mosaic of graphite grains. The grains have lateral dimensions of 100 to 200 nm on average but are only a few atomic layers thick.In situ lattice imaging of the fibre edges indicates a very high level of lattice perfection of the (00l) domains below the fibre surface, quite in line with the outstanding mechanical and thermal properties of this type of fibres. A variety of surface defects are revealed. Preferential orientation effects of the sheet texture on the fibre electron diffraction pattern are described.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
W. Johnson, in “Handbook of Composites”, Vol. “l-Strong Fibers”, edited by W. Watt and B. V. Perov, (North Holland, New York, 1985) pp. 389–443.
S. C. Bennett, D. J. Johnson andW. Johnson,J. Mat. Sci. 18 (1983) 3337.
M. Guigon, A. Oberlin andG. Desarmot,Fibre Sci. Technol. 20 (1984) 55.
D. J. Johnson, in “Chemistry and Physics of Carbon”, Vol 20, edited by P. A. Thrower, (Marcel Dekker, New York, 1987) p. 1.
L. S. Singer, US Patent 4 005 183 (1977).
Idem, Carbon 16 (1978) 408.
J. L. White, in Proceedings of the Carbondale Conference, University of Illinois (1985).
H. Honda,Carbon 26 (1988) 139.
D. A. Schulz,SAMPE J. March/April (1987), p. 27.
D. D. Edie, N. K. Fox, B. C. Barnett andC. C. Fain,Carbon 24 (1986) 477.
H. Sasaki, T. Sawaki andY. Yoshioka, US Patent 4 628 001 (1986).
M. Endo,J. Mater. Sci 23 (1988) 598.
E. J. Roche, J. G. Lavin andR. G. Parrish,Carbon 26 (1988) 911.
R. Bacon,J. Appl. Phys. 31 (1960) 283.
J. V. Sharp andS. G. Burnay, in Proceedings of the First Annual Conference on Carbon, London, 1971, p. 68.
B. Rand, in “Handbook of Composites”, Vol. 1, edited by W. Watt and B. V. Perov (North Holland, New York, 1985) pp. 495–575.
J. C. H. Spence, in “Experimental High Resolution Electron Microscopy”, (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1981) p. 219.
S. C. Bennett, D. J. Johnson andR. Murray,Carbon 14 (1976) 117.
G. R. Millward andD. A. Jefferson, in “Chemistry and Physics of Carbon”, Vol 14, edited by P. L. Walker and P. A. Thrower, (Marcel Dekker, New York, 1978) pp. 1–82.
A. Oberlin,Carbon 17 (1979) 7.
P. A. Thrower, in “Chemistry and Physics of Carbon”, Vol 5, edited by P. L. Walker, (Marcel Dekker, New York, 1969) p. 217.
A. Maui andK. Vijayan,J. Mater. Sci. Lett. 6 (1987) 872.
D. J. Johnson,J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 20 (1987) 286.
W. Ruland andR. Plaetschke, Extended abstracts of the 17th Biennal Conference on Carbon, Lexington (American Carbon Society, 1985) p. 356.
J. A. Hugo, V. A. Phillips andB. W. Roberts,Nature 226 (1970) 144.
D. J. Johnson,Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lon. A294 (1980) 443.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Roche, E.J. Electron microscopy study of mesophase pitch-based graphite fibres. J Mater Sci 25, 2149–2158 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01045781
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01045781