Physical properties of vapor-grown carbon fibers

• Published in: Carbon (New York) Vol. 31; no. 7; pp. 1039 - 1047
• Main Authors: Tibbetts, Gary G., Doll, Gary L., Gorkiewicz, Daniel W., Moleski, Jerome J., Perry, Thomas A., Dasch, Cameron J., Balogh, Michael J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 1993; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Building materials. Ceramics. Glasses; carbon filaments; catalytic growth of carbon; Ceramic and carbon fibers; Ceramic industries; Chemical industry and chemicals; Exact sciences and technology; filamentous carbon; growth of carbon fibers; Technical ceramics; Vapor-grown carbon fibers; carbon filaments; growth of carbon fibers; Vapor-grown carbon fibers; catalytic growth of carbon; filamentous carbon; Transmission electron microscopy; Raman spectrometry; Surface area; Experimental study; Density; X ray diffraction; Chemical vapor deposition; Physical properties; Carbon fiber
• ISSN: 0008-6223; 1873-3891
• DOI: 10.1016/0008-6223(93)90054-E

Vapor-grown carbon fibers (VGCF) are produced by depositing a layer of pyrocarbon from the vapor phase on a catalytically grown carbon filament. This morphology determines many properties of the fiber, since the filament is more graphitic than the pyrocarbon. In this paper we compare VGCF produced by a continuous process with those grown on a substrate. Fibers having thicker pyrocarbon layers are less graphitic as measured by X-ray diffractometry, electron diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. The bulk density of the fibers, near 2.03 g/cm 3, is relatively high for carbon fibers; it decreases slightly as the pyrocarbon thickness increases. The surface area of the fibers determined by N 2 adsorption is not larger than the calculated geometric area, indicating that the surface is relatively smooth and free of pores. Each of these measurements indicates that fibers produced by a continuous process are comparable to those grown on substrates, with respect to graphitization and surface properties.