Carbon Fibers and Their Composites Materials Engineering Series

Most literature pertaining to carbon fibers is of a theoretical nature. Carbon Fibers and their Composites offers a comprehensive look at the specific manufacturing of carbon fibers and graphite fibers into the growing surge of diverse applications that include flameproof materials, protective coatings, biomedical and prosthetics applications, textiles, batteries and fuel cells, automotive applications, construction, and even musical instruments.

This useful guide provides a hands-on approach to the fabrication of carbon fibers. The book begins with a blueprint of the international history and development of carbon fiber, clearly defined terminology for all forms of solid carbon products, and the properties for elemental carbon and its allotropic forms. It then elaborates upon precursor materials, relevant surface treatment, and sizing for each carbon fiber type available in the world market. Several chapters also examine the types of matrices, their properties, and fracture mechanics of thermoset and thermoplastic polymers, carbon, glass, metal, and ceramics matrices.

Carbon Fibers and their Composites reveals straightforward guidelines for the day-to-day operations of a carbon fiber plant, such as safety testing, quality control, design of equipment, packaging, air flow/dust control, maintenance, and environmental policies. Based on over 30 years of experience in the field, the author offers insight and possible solutions to the problems associated with production and testing of carbon fibers and their related composites. He details the use of analytical chemistry techniques, instrumentation requirements, and statistics to evaluate the results.

Carbon Fibers and their Composites offers an excellent clarification of how carbon fibers yield reinforced composites, their physical and chemical characteristics, the diverse manufacturing techniques for each type, and the advantages they offer to a variety of applications.

Structure of the Carbon Atom
The Forms of Carbon
History and Early Development of Carbon Fibers
Precursors for Carbon Fiber Manufacture
Carbon Fiber Production Using a PAN Precursor
Carbon Fiber Production Using a Cellulosic Based Precursor
Carbon Fiber Production Using a Pitch Based Precursor
Production of Vapor Grown Carbon Fibers (VGCF)
Surface Treatment and Sizing of Carbon Fibers
Guidelines for the Design of Equipment for Carbon Fiber Plant
Operation of Carbon Fiber Plant and Safety Aspects
Techniques for Determining the Structure of Carbon Fibers
Polymer Matrices for Carbon Fiber Composites
Carbon Fiber Carbon Matrix Composites
Carbon Fiber Reinforced Ceramic Matrices
Carbon Fibers in Metal Matrices
Testing Pan Precursor, Virgin Carbon Fibers, Carbon Fiber Composites and Related Products
Statistics and Statistical Process Control (SPC)
Quality Control
Properties of Carbon Fibers
Manufacturing Techniques for Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composites in Thermoset and Thermoplastic Matrices
Design
The Uses of Carbon Fibers
Looking to the Future