Incorporating Carbon Nanotubes into Carbon Fiber via Surface Modification

Ever more advanced materials need to be designed to further the exploration of avenues of science and engineering. Metals and traditional composites are not meeting the needs of today’s stringent demands for lightweight and strong materials. There is a need for advanced materials that are lighter and stronger to replace conventional materials; carbon fiber composites became the obvious choice because of their outstanding mechanical properties. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based carbon fiber has reached its apex in terms of its strength to weight ratio. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) offer a lightweight and potentially stronger alternative to PAN based fibers. However, it is difficult to translate the properties of individual CNTs macroscopically. The next step to overcome this barrier is to introduce highly aligned CNTs into carbon fiber. Carbon nanotube modified carbon fibers are imperative for the next step in achieving lightweight, ultra-strong fibers, to enhance their fuel efficient application in vehicles.