Abstract
In the current study, carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were grown on a carbon fiber (CF) surface by using the chemical vapor deposition method (CVD) and the influences of some parameters of the CVD method on improving the mechanical properties of a polypropylene (PP) composite were investigated. To obtain an optimum surface area, thickness, and yield of the CNFs, the parameters of the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, such as catalyst concentration, reaction temperature, reaction time, and hydrocarbon flow rate, were optimized. It was observed that the optimal surface area, thickness, and yield of the CNFs caused more adhesion of the fibers with the PP matrix, which enhanced the composite properties. Besides this, the effectiveness of reinforcement of fillers was fitted with a mathematical model obtaining good agreement between the experimental result and the theoretical prediction. By applying scanning electronic microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and Raman spectroscopy, the surface morphology and structural information of the resultant CF-CNF were analyzed. Additionally, SEM images and a mechanical test of the composite with a proper layer of CNFs on the CF revealed not only a compactness effect but also the thickness and surface area roles of the CNF layers in improving the mechanical properties of the composites.
Highlights
Carbon fibers (CFs) with excellent properties, such as high strength and low weight have been used as fillers at a small percentage to reinforce polymer composites [1,2]
The most important scope of this research is concerned with the study of the influences of the thickness and surface area of the carbon nanofibers (CNFs) layer coated CF on the enhancement of the PP composite
The surfaces of the CF with CNF layers were modified by using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using different concentrations of the catalyst, from 50 mM to 150 mM at various reaction temperatures, from 450 to
Summary
Carbon fibers (CFs) with excellent properties, such as high strength and low weight have been used as fillers at a small percentage to reinforce polymer composites [1,2]. Various carbon nanomaterials can act as fillers in a polymer matrix [3,4,5] Such nanomaterials with a variety of novel properties like, high specific modulus, strength, surface area, high chemical and thermal stability, low mass density, and high electric conductivity, have been widely studied in many fields of science and industry [5,6,7,8,9,10]. To the best of our knowledge, so far, nobody has investigated the simultaneous effects of surface area, thickness, and amount (yield) of the CNF layers coated with CFs as a filler on improving the mechanical properties of a polypropylene composite. In the current study, CNFs were synthesized on the surface of the CF using the CVD method under different process conditions (catalyst concentration, temperature, time, and hydrocarbon flow rate) and they were used as fillers in a polypropylene matrix to fabricate the composite (CF-CNF/PP). 2016, 6and structural evolution of the CF-CNF was analyzed by scanning electron surface morphological microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy
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