CHARACTERIZATION OF CARBON NANO-STRUCTURE MODIFIED FIBER SUBSTRATES

Carbon nano-structures were grown onto the surfaces of two glass fiber substrates and a carbon fiber substrate using an in-line continuous chemical vapor deposition-based growth chamber. The growth system-related processing parameters, specifically growth chamber temperature, catalyst concentration and process line speed, were varied to observe the effect on the mechanical properties and dry tow bundle behavior of each substrate. Dry fiber tow bundle level tensile tests were conducted on As-Received and processed fiber tow bundles. A statistically significant number of tests were used to determine the distribution of mechanical material properties, including, but not limited to, stiffness, max load, and failure strain. The test results provide the necessary statistical information to analysis the dry fiber tow bundle behaviors using Weibull analysis. The findings of this study are used to identify the most fruitful processing paths for these emerging materials