Mechanical properties of vapor-grown carbon fibers prepared from benzene in Linz–Donawitz converter gas by floating catalyst method

Abstract

Tensile strength and Young's modulus were determined for vapor-grown carbon fibers (VGCF's) prepared from benzene in Linz–Donawitz converter gas (LDG) by the floating catalyst method. The tensile strength decreased with increasing diameter and volume and depended strongly on whether the fiber was straight or crooked. The average tensile strength of straight fibers was 2.05 GPa, while that of crooked fibers was 1.09 GPa. The latter broke at bends in the fiber where they acted as defects. The average Young's modulus of straight fibers was 163 GPa, while that of crooked fibers was a little higher at 197 GPa. VGCF's prepared in LDG appeared to have comparable mechanical properties to those grown in hydrogen.