Effect of carbon fabric type on the mechanical performance of 2D carbon/carbon composites

Abstract A stabilized PAN fabric was carbonized and graphitized from 800°C to 2500°C. Two‐dimensional (2D) carbon/carbon composites were made using the stabilized PAN fabric, carbonized fabrics, and a resol‐type phenol‐formaldehyde resin. These composites were heat‐treated from 600°C to 2500°C. The influence of different heat‐treated fabrics and heat treatment on the fracture and flexural strength of these composites was also studied. The composite reinforced with higher heat‐treated fabrics showed a lower weight loss than that with lower heat‐treated fabrics. When the composites were graphitized at 2500°C, the loss was 49.7 wt% for the composite made with stabilized PAN fabric and 26 wt% for that with carbonized fabric at 2500°C. Those composites also have a higher density than composites produced by other methods. Composites made with stabilized PAN fabric exhibited a strong bonding in the fiber/matrix during pyrolysis. This composite showed catastrophic fracture and a smooth fracture surface with no fiber pullout. Composites made with higher carbonized fabrics exhibited a weak interface bonding. These composites showed a pseudo‐plastic fracture pattern with fiber pullout during pyrolysis. Composites made with carbonized fabrics at 2000°C and 2500°C showed the highest flexural strength at the prolysis temperature of 1000°C. Composites made with carbonized fabric at 1300°C showed the highest flexural strength above 1500°C to 2500°C. The composite made with stabilized PAN fabric exhibited the lowest flexural strength during pyrolysis.