Fast carbon nanotube growth on carbon fiber keeping tensile strength

Author(s)

Ribeiro Cardoso, Lays Dias ^{[1, 2]} ; Carvajal Bravo Gomes, Marines Chiquinquira ^[2] ; Antunes, Erica Freire ^[2] ; Silva, Fabio Santos ^[3] ; Trava-Airoldi, Vladimir Jesus ^[2] ; Corat, Evaldo Jose ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Inst Nacl Pesquisas Espaciais, Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

^[3] Empresa Brasileira Aeronaut, Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: COMPOSITE INTERFACES; v. 28, n. 9, p. 859-878, SEP 2 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

This work developed a novel approach for carbon nanotube (CNT) direct deposition on carbon fiber (CF) tow surface by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), without degrading CF mechanical properties. This approach combines conditions for growth at low-temperature (650 degrees C), small growth induction period for a fast growth and fast surface modification to enable the growth. The lower growth temperature comes from using the well-known equimolar C2H2/CO(2)gas mixture. The floating catalyst from a liquid precursor (with high ferrocene concentration dissolved in hexane) reduced the growth induction period. Gentle surface modification, either by a mild oxidation of CF fiber with silicon containing sizing, or by desized CF exposition to a hexamethyldissiloxane (HMDSO) environment, create silicon oxide clusters. The X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analysis show that such clusters need to be in a higher oxidation state - Si(-O)(2), Si(-O)(3)and Si(-O)(4)- to anchor catalyst and enable CNT growth. The first oxidation state - Si(-O)(1)- is not enough. A resin droplet wetting test developed shows that even though the success in CNT growth, the entire processes decrease CF wetting, exposing the need for a resizing procedure. CF mechanical properties were characterized by single-filament and CF tow tensile strength tests. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/15857-1 - Scientific studies and innovation application on CVD diamond, DLC and carbon nanostructures obtained by chemical vapor deposition technique
• Grantee: Vladimir Jesus Trava-Airoldi
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants