Effects of functional group of carbon nanotubes on mechanical properties of carbon fibers

Abstract

The effects of surface functionalization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the mechanical properties of carbon fibers (CFs) have been investigated. The surface functionalization of CNTs was carried out with a cliazonium reagent. Compared to pure PAN, only the fluoro phenyl functionalized CNTs (F-Ph-CNT) incorporated PAN composites showed a significant increase up to 22 degrees C of T-g and displayed the second peak due to the interfacial interaction between F-Ph-CNT and PAN. Among the samples, 0.5wt% of F-Ph-CNT reinforced CFs exhibited a 46% increase in tensile strength (4.1 GPa) and a 37% increase in modulus (302 GPa), respectively compared to that of pure CFs. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.