Fabrication of a Low Density Carbon Fiber Foam and Its Characterization as a Strain Gauge

Samples of carbon nano-fiber foam (CFF), essentially a 3D solid mat of intertwined nanofibers of pure carbon, were grown using the Constrained Formation of Fibrous Nanostructures (CoFFiN) process in a steel mold at 550 °C from a palladium particle catalysts exposed to fuel rich mixtures of ethylene...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Materials 2014-05, Vol.7 (5), p.3699-3714
Main Authors: Luhrs, Claudia C, Daskam, Chris D, Gonzalez, Edwin, Phillips, Jonathan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Carbon
Carbon fibers
Density
Electrical properties
Hydrophobicity
Mechanical tests
Nanofibers
Palladium
Scanning electron microscopy
Strain gauges
Thermal stability
Thermogravimetric analysis
Viscoelasticity
Weight reduction
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Summary:Samples of carbon nano-fiber foam (CFF), essentially a 3D solid mat of intertwined nanofibers of pure carbon, were grown using the Constrained Formation of Fibrous Nanostructures (CoFFiN) process in a steel mold at 550 °C from a palladium particle catalysts exposed to fuel rich mixtures of ethylene and oxygen. The resulting material was studied using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDX), Surface area analysis (BET), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). Transient and dynamic mechanical tests clearly demonstrated that the material is viscoelastic. Concomitant mechanical and electrical testing of samples revealed the material to have electrical properties appropriate for application as the sensing element of a strain gauge. The sample resistance strain values stabilize after a few compression cycles to show a perfectly linear relationship. Study of microstructure, mechanical and electrical properties of the low density samples confirm the uniqueness of the material: It is formed entirely of independent fibers of diverse diameters that interlock forming a tridimensional body that can be grown into different shapes and sizes at moderate temperatures. It regains its shape after loads are removed, is light weight, presents viscoelastic behavior, thermal stability up to 550 °C, hydrophobicity, and is electrically conductive.
ISSN:1996-1944
1996-1944
DOI:10.3390/ma7053699