Tensile properties of carbon nanotubes grown on ultrahigh strength polyacrylonitrile-based and ultrahigh modulus pitch-based carbon fibers

The tensile properties and fracture behavior of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) grown on ultrahigh tensile strength polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based (T1000GB) and ultrahigh modulus pitch-based (K13D) carbon fibers have been investigated. The CNTs were grown on the carbon fiber surface using chemical vapor deposition. The statistical scattering of the tensile strength was also evaluated. The results clearly show that grafting of CNTs improves the mechanical properties and the Weibull modulus of ultrahigh tensile strength PAN-based and ultrahigh modulus pitch-based carbon fibers.