Carbonaceous bodies

Abstract

Abstract Chemically resistant bodies of high mechanical strength are obtained by first producing a composite body in which partlyfired carbon-fibre material, made by low-temperature firing of natural or synthetic organic fibre material in an oxidising atmosphere while restraining the fibres from shrinking is incorporated in a matrix of carbonisable thermosetting resin and then heat-treating this body to carbonise the material of the matrix and at the same time complete the conversion of the organic precursor fibres into carbon-fibres. The heat treatment may be carried on to a temperature sufficient to convert the resin of the matrix into vitreous carbon, but greater mechanical strength though somewhat reduced chemical resistance may be obtained by use of carbonisation temperatures which though well above the curing point of the resin are below the temperatures necessary for the production of vitreous carbon. The use of a resin for the matrix whose shrinkage during the carbonising heat treatment is less than that of unrestrained partly-fired carbon fibres results in the production of a carbon-fibre reinforced carbon body in which the fibres are under tensile stress while the material of the matrix is under compressive stress.

Inventors

• 👤 F Cowland
• 👤 H Appleby

Bibliographic Details