Effect of Carbon Fiber Filament on Electrical and Mechanical Properties of Epoxy/Graphite Composite

Abstract

Epoxy/graphite powder (GP)/carbon fiber filament (CFF) composites have been prepared in various weight ratios and electrical and mechanical properties were estimated in order to use for the bipolar plate in PEMFC. As was expected, electrical conductivity increased with increasing total carbon content, and the value increased with increasing CFF content in the same carbon content. Tensile strength and flexural strength linearly decreased with increasing epoxy content, however in the same carbon content, these values increased with increasing CFF content. The good effect of CFF on the electrical and mechanical properties was due to the strong bonding between CFF and epoxy resin, which was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).