Mechanical Engineering ETDs

Daniel Garcia

Publication Date

8-27-2009

Abstract

Carbon nanofilaments were grown on the surface of microscale carbon-fibers at relatively low temperature using palladium as a catalyst to create multiscale fiber reinforcing structures with potential applications in structural composites. Employing a relatively new method, in which carbon structures are grown from fuel rich combustion mixtures on certain catalytic metals, multiscale filament structures were grown from ethylene/oxygen mixtures at 550 °C on commercial PAN and pitch carbon fibers. The filaments grew in a bimodal size distribution. Relative short, densely spaced nanofilaments (ca. 10 nm diameter), and a slightly less dense layer of larger (ca. 100 nm diameter) faster growing fibers (ca. 10 microns/hr) were found to exist together to create a unique multiscale structure. All analytical techniques employed indicated poor crystallinity of the produced filaments.

Keywords

Nanofibers--Design and construction, Carbon fibers, Fibrous composites--Materials.

Degree Name

Mechanical Engineering

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Mechanical Engineering

First Committee Member (Chair)

Phillips, Jonathan

Second Committee Member

Luhrs, Claudia

Sponsors

Defense Threat Reduction Agency

Document Type

Thesis

Language

English

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