Effect of in situ grown carbon nanotubes on the structure and mechanical properties of unidirectional carbon/carbon composites

Preforms containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were fabricated by in situ grown in unidirectional carbon cloths, and densified by chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) to prepare CNT reinforced C/C composites (CNT-C/C composites). The density change of obtained composites during CVI was investigated. The results show that densification rate of CNT-C/C composites is higher than that of pure C/C composite. Densification rate has the maximum value when the CNT content is 5 wt%. Polarized-light optical microscopy, SEM and TEM were used to analyze the effect of CNTs on the structure of obtained composites. The results show that the existence of CNTs can not only contribute to the formation of high-textured pyrolytic carbon, but also increase the number of interfaces and form the complicated interface in C/C composites. This structure change leads to higher flexural properties of CNT-C/C composites than that of pure C/C composite.

Research highlights▶ CNTs can change the pore structure of preform to affect the densification rate. ▶ The existence of CNTs conduces to the formation of high-textured PyC. ▶ CNTs increase the number of two-phase interfaces and form the complicated interface. ▶ Flexural properties of C/C composites can be improved by in situ grown CNTs.