Fabrication and Reinforcing Mechanism: In Situ Grown Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Carbon/Carbon Composites with High Interlaminar Shear Strength

Straight carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with radially-growing morphologies and long length were grafted on carbon fibers by catalytic chemical vapor deposition and they were used to reinforce carbon/carbon composites (C/Cs). Mechanical tests indicate that CNTs can increase the interlaminar shearing strength of C/Cs by about 200 %. The reinforcement mechanism was concretely discussed with emphasis placed on the change of the cohesion of pyrocarbon matrix.