Ultimate Tensile Strength of Pitch-Based Carbon Fibers

摘要

Histograms of the average diameter, fiber breaking load and ultimate tensile strength were determined for as-received VSB-320 grade, Thornel P-type carbon fiber. The mean fiber diameter and the mean ultimate tensile strength were determined to be 10.4 micrometers and 2.0 GPa (290 ksi), respectively, in good agreement with manufacture's property data. Kinked fibers having larger diameters, lower strength and coatings of a substance tentatively identified as the sizing comprised approximately 15 percent of the fiber in the tow. Washing fibers in distilled water increases both their diameter and the average breaking load.