MORPHOLOGICAL, MECHANICAL AND INTERFACIAL ANALYSIS OF VAPOR-GROWN CARBON-FIBERS

The diverse shapes in which vapour grown carbon fibres can be produced were studied using scanning electron microscopy and laser diffraction . Fibres with a cylindrical shape were characterised by tensile testin g. It is shown that the Weibull distribution function is well adapted to interpret the fibres' strength data. On the other hand, the fragmen tation method cannot be used to assess the quality of the interface of these fibres in polymeric matrix composites. This is due to the failu re mode which is inherent to the inner structure of the vapour grown c arbon fibres. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.