Carbon Fiber Reinforced Carbon Composites from Renewable Sources

• Published in: Polymer-plastics technology and engineering 2004-01, Vol.43 (4), p.1187-1211
• Main Authors: Paiva, Jane M. F., Trindade, Wanderson G., Frollini, Elisabete, Pardini, Luiz C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Flexural strength; Lignin; Phenolic matrix; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Pyrolysis; Technology of polymers; Vegetal fibers; Vegetal fibers reinforced composites
• ISSN: 0360-2559; 1525-6111
• DOI: 10.1081/PPT-200030076

Thermoset polymers (phenolic and lignophenolic) are used as matrix materials for polymeric composites. A great deal of effort has been done in order to use vegetal fibers, obtained from sugarcane bagasse and sisal, to reinforce such matrices, because they are readily available and they are renewable resources. Carbon reinforced materials are usually obtained by using high strength carbon fibers for high-tech demanding aerospace and aeronautical uses. Phenolic type resins are commonly used as carbon matrix source for such applications. In this work a reinforced carbon material is obtained by a controlled pyrolysis from lignophenolic matrix/bagasse and lignophenolic/sisal polymeric composites. The ex-vegetable fibers carbon composites were analyzed by flexural tests. The conversion of the vegetable fiber into a carbon fiber takes place in situ all over the matrix material resulting in carbon reinforced materials having a flexural strength as high as 21 MPa and flexural modulus in the range of 11-13 GPa. These results are over expected because the fibers have no previous physicochemical treatment for enhancing bonding with the matrix or for enduring carbonizing temperatures.