“Recoil” Compressive Strength Test and the Evolution of Compressive Behavior in PAN-Based Carbon Fibers

Abstract

AbstractThe compressive properties of PAN-based carbon fibers were measured with the tensile recoil method. The recoil fracture morphology was also examined. In addition to the axial compression, flexure during recoil affects the test results. Compressive failure may be caused by shear failure and/or bending buckling of the microfibrils/fibrils. Study of the evolution of compressive and other mechanical properties discloses that, in general, the compressive strength bears a similar tendency to the tensile strength and torsion modulus up to the carbonization temperature of 1500 °C. However, the relative rate of evolution is different. To some extent, the bending buckling mechanism may relate to the structural units which govern the tensile strength.