GB2263904A - Carbon-carbon composite material - Google Patents

Carbon-carbon composite material Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2263904A
GB2263904A GB9302239A GB9302239A GB2263904A GB 2263904 A GB2263904 A GB 2263904A GB 9302239 A GB9302239 A GB 9302239A GB 9302239 A GB9302239 A GB 9302239A GB 2263904 A GB2263904 A GB 2263904A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
carbon
carbonaceous material
liquid medium
carbonisable
assembly
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9302239A
Other versions
GB9302239D0 (en
Inventor
Ronald Fisher
Trevor Charles Wells
Thomas Gerard Fennell
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Dunlop Ltd
Original Assignee
Dunlop Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Dunlop Ltd filed Critical Dunlop Ltd
Publication of GB9302239D0 publication Critical patent/GB9302239D0/en
Publication of GB2263904A publication Critical patent/GB2263904A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C04CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
    • C04BLIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
    • C04B35/00Shaped ceramic products characterised by their composition; Ceramics compositions; Processing powders of inorganic compounds preparatory to the manufacturing of ceramic products
    • C04B35/71Ceramic products containing macroscopic reinforcing agents
    • C04B35/78Ceramic products containing macroscopic reinforcing agents containing non-metallic materials
    • C04B35/80Fibres, filaments, whiskers, platelets, or the like
    • C04B35/83Carbon fibres in a carbon matrix
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16DCOUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
    • F16D69/00Friction linings; Attachment thereof; Selection of coacting friction substances or surfaces
    • F16D69/02Composition of linings ; Methods of manufacturing
    • F16D69/023Composite materials containing carbon and carbon fibres or fibres made of carbonizable material

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Composite Materials (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Ceramic Products (AREA)

Abstract

Method for the manufacture of a carbon-carbon composite by providing an assembly of carbon fibre and carbonisable carbonaceous material, subjecting the assembly to heat and pressure to consolidate the assembly and heating to carbonise the carbonaceous material, wherein the assembly of carbon fibre and carbonisable carbonaceous material is provided by a process comprising wetting carbon fibre with a liquid medium carrying carbonisable carbonaceous material and then removing the liquid medium to deposit a coating of the carbonaceous material on the carbon fibre. Uses of the product include aircraft brake friction discs.

Description

CARBON-CARBON COMPOSITE MATERIAL This invention relates to carbon-carbon composites, especially to a method for the manufacture of such composites and to products of the method.
It is known to produce carbon-carbon composites by providing a composition of carbon fibres and carbonisable carbonaceous material and then carbonising the material, or by depositing carbon from a gaseous phase onto a carbon fibre substrate. One known method comprises applying a molten pitch to a preform of carbon fibres, often at a high pressure, and then carbonising the pitch.
Usually the current methods for manufacturing carbon-carbon composites are slow and costly and have other shortcomings, especially in the manufacture of products such as aircraft brake discs.
An object of the present invention is the provision of an efficient economic method for the manufacture of carbon-carbon composites having a uniform high density, and graphitised versions of such composites suitable for applications requiring high thermal conductivity, for instance in aircraft brakes.
The present invention provides a method for the manufacture of a carbon-carbon composite by providing an assembly of carbon fibre and carbonisable carbonaceous material, subjecting the assembly to heat and pressure to consolidate the assembly and heating to carbonise the carbonaceous material: wherein the assembly of carbon fibre and carbonisable carbonaceous material is provided by a process comprising wetting carbon fibre with a liquid medium carrying carbonisable carbonaceous material and then removing the liquid medium to deposit a coating of the carbonaceous material on the carbon fibre.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a moulding compound comprising an assembly of carbon fibre having a coating of carbonisable carbonaceous material deposited from a solution and/or suspension of the material in a liquid medium. The assembly may be at least partially consolidated.
The present invention also provides products of the aforementioned method.
The carbon fibre may be of any kind normally employed for the manufacture of carbon-carbon composites. Staple and/or continuous length fibre may be employed. Preferably the carbon fibre consists of or comprises fibres having a length of at least 10 mm, especially at least 25 mm. Examples of the form of the carbon fibre are continuous tow, non-woven fabric (needled or non-needled), woven fabric and knitted fabric.
The carbonisable carbonaceous material typically is a polymeric material, preferably a thermoplastic material. Advantageously for many applications of carbon-carbon composites, for instance in aircraft brakes, the carbonaceous material should be one which, when carbonised, yields high density carbon, preferably having a true density, i.e. the density excluding porosity, of greater than 1.7 g.cm-3, which preferably also is capable of being at least partially converted into graphitic form, i.e. graphitised, on heating to a high temperature.
Advantageously also, the carbonaceous material is of the high-char type, especially one which is capable of yielding greater than 60% of its original weight as carbon when the material is carbonised.
Preferably it yields carbon in an amount of at least 70%, more preferably at least 80%, based on its original weight.
A preferred carbonaceous material is a pitch, which may be natural or synthetic. Natural pitches are a range of materials derived from coal tars or petroleum distillate residues. They are mixtures of organic compounds having high aromaticity. Synthetic pitches may be produced by heat treatment of aromatic hydrocarbons such as naphthalene and anthracene. One preferred form of pitch is a mesophase pitch. Such a pitch is described in 'Carbon' vol. 24 No.2 at page 247 (1986). Another example of a suitable pitch is that available as Ashland Aerocarb 80.
Other carbonaceous materials which may be employed include resins, especially thermoplastic resins. Employment of a thermoplastic material rather than a thermosetting (curable or hardenable) resin obviates a separate curing/hardening stage. Also, thermosetting resins usually are not suitable when graphitisation is required.
Advantageously the liquid medium is a solvent and the carbonaceous material is at least partially dissolved, preferably completely dissolved, in the liquid medium at normal (room) temperature. The liquid medium may be aqueous or non-aqueous. Examples of non-aqueous media are organic liquids such as toluene, benzene, pyridine, quinoline and tetrahydrofuran.
Suitably the viscosity of the liquid medium with the carbonaceous material and any other materials carried therein is up to 2,000, up to 1,000, up to 500, up to 100 or up to 10 mN.sec.m as measured at 200C and atmospheric pressure. A suitable minimum viscosity may be at least 0.2, at least 0.5 or at least 1 mN.sec.m as measured at 200C and atmospheric pressure.
Examples of means of application of the carbonaceous material in liquid medium to the carbon fibre are by immersion, spraying, vacuum impregnation, electrophoretic deposition and electrostatic deposition.
The carbonaceous material in liquid medium may be applied to the carbon fibre at any stage prior to consolidation, such as to the carbon fibre in tow or sheet fabric form or to a preform.
Additional advantages may be achieved wherein one or more materials additional to the primary carbonaceous material are carried by the liquid medium, for instance to increase solution viscosity, carbon yield, carbon density, oxidation resistance, friction, wear resistance and/or graphitisation efficiency.
If desired, more than one carbonaceous material may be applied in the liquid medium and deposited on the carbon fibre. One or more carbonaceous materials may be in solution in the liquid medium and one or more carbonaceous materials may be in the form of fine particles suspended in the liquid medium. The suspended carbonaceous materials may be particles of carbon (e.g.
amorphous carbon, colloidal graphite powder or carbon black) or particles of carbonisable material (e.g.
microbeads of mesophase pitch).
Additionally to the carbonaceous material(s), the liquid medium may carry one or more modifying materials, for instance a catalyst to promote graphitisation (e.g. to achieve graphitisation at a faster rate and/or at a lower temperature) or an antioxidant. Such materials suitably may be in particulate form suspended in the liquid medium and are deposited with the carbonaceous material(s) upon removal of the liquid medium. Examples of suitable particulate non-carbonaceous materials are boron, which may act as a graphitisation catalyst, and ceramic materials, which may improve properties such as oxidation resistance, friction and wear resistance.
The particles suitably are in fine powder form, preferably of diameter less than 10 microns.
An advantageous particulate antioxidant may be a substance which combines with oxygen selectively at temperatures in excess of 5000C to produce a protective layer between the carbon-carbon composite and the atmosphere, thereby to improve the overall oxidation resistance of the composite.
Additionally or alternatively to application of particles as a suspension in the liquid medium, particles may be applied in dry powder form after application of a solution of carbonaceous material in the liquid medium and preferably while the applied solution is in a tacky state, e.g. after partial evaporation of the liquid medium.
After application of the liquid medium carrying the carbonaceous material(s) and any other materials, the liquid medium is removed. A suitable means of removal is by evaporation, in which case the vapour pressure of the liquid medium preferably should be significantly higher than that of the carbonaceous material(s) and any other materials carried by the liquid medium so that substantially only the liquid medium evaporates. If desired, the evaporated liquid may be recovered for re-use.
The resulting coated-fibre assembly may be further subjected to treatment with carbonaceous material in a liquid medium to build up the deposited coating of carbonaceous material if required.
If desired, the coated fibres may be fragmented, such as by cutting or chopping, to provide a mouldingcompound.
The assembly for consolidation may comprise more than one coated-fibre sub-assembly. For instance, two or more coated-fibre sub-assemblies may be stacked in a multi-ply arrangement.
The assembly may be in the form of a shaped preform, for instance a needled stack of fabric sheets.
Preferably the assembly is self-supporting (i.e. it does not require the aid of a supporting jig) during the consolidation process.
If desired an assembly of coated fibres may be wound to form a hollow cylindical preform prior to consolidation.
Consolidation of the assembly is achieved by hot-pressing, usually at a temperature up to about 5000C, for instance at about 300"C.
The consolidation process may be carried out using isostatic pressure but more usually uniaxial pressure is employed. If desired, when uniaxial pressure is used, restraining means may be employed to restrain outward deformation of the assembly in at least one direction transversely of the pressure application direction. Alternatively, uniaxial pressure may be applied without transverse restraint; this could allow greater retention of fibre orientation.
The assembly may be moulded or shaped prior to and/or during consolidation. The consolidated assembly may be in a form for moulding and subjection to carbonisation or it may be cut into shape or smaller lengths (e.g. when the assembly is based on a long ow of carbon fibre) prior to moulding or carbonisation.
Carbonisation of the consolidated assembly (composite) may be achieved by heating, in the substantial absence of air or other oxidising environment, at a higher temperature than that employed for consolidation. The carbonisation temperature typically is at least 6000C and more usually at least 1,000 C. The temperature may be selected to enable the assembly to exhibit plastic behaviour and thereby to enable further consolidation and/or moulding, if desired, prior to complete carbonisation.
The level of pressure employed for consolidation of the assembly usually is not necessary during carbonisation. However, it may be advantageous to maintain some, relatively low, usually uniaxial, compression pressure during carbonisation in order to minimise the risk of delamination. Means may be provided to maintain substantially atmospheric pressure and vent means may be provided to ensure that gases evolved during carbonisation do not cause an undesirable increase of gas pressure. Alternatively the by-products of carbonising may be removed, for example by a vacuum system.
If required, the carbonised assembly may be subjected to further application of carbonaceous material in a liquid medium followed by removal of liquid medium and by further carbonisation.
Additionally or alternatively, carbon may be deposited on the assembly by a carbon vapour deposition technique.
For some purposes it is advantageous for the product to be in graphitic form, especially when thermal conductivity is desirable. Graphitisation may be attained by heating the carbonised assembly to a higher temperature such as at least 15000C and often at least 2,0000C. The temperature preferably should not exceed that at which the carbon starts to vaporise and accordingly usually it will not exceed about 3,0000C.
The bulk density of the carbon-carbon composites preferably is at least 1.7, more preferably at least 1.8 and even more preferably at least 1.9 g.cm-3.
The carbon-carbon composites, particularly the graphitised composites, are suitable for applications requiring high thermal conductivity and/or high thermal diffusivity. Examples of applications are in brake friction discs (especially for aircraft), friction pads, protective tiles and linings in thermonuclear fusion apparatus, thermal protection material for spacecraft, protective surfaces for hypersonic aircraft, and high temperature components in gas turbines.

Claims (27)

CLAIMS:
1. Method for the manufacture of a carbon-carbon composite by providing an assembly of carbon fibre and carbonisable carbonaceous material, subjecting the assembly . to heat and pressure to consolidate the assembly and heating to carbonise the carbonaceous material, wherein: the assembly of carbon fibre and carbonisable carbonaceous material is provided by a process comprising wetting carbon fibre with a liquid medium carrying carbonisable carbonaceous material and then removing the liquid medium to deposit a coating of the carbonaceous material on the carbon fibre.
2. Method according to Claim 1 wherein the liquid medium is a solvent for the carbonaceous material and the carbonaceous material is at least partially dissolved therein at normal temperature.
3. Method according to Claim 2 wherein the carbonaceous material is completely dissolved therein at normal temperature.
4. Method according to Claim 2 or 3 wherein the carbonaceous material comprises a pitch.
5. Method according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the liquid medium carries one or more additional materials which are deposited on the carbon fibre when the liquid medium is removed.
6. Method according to Claim 5 wherein the liquid medium. carries carbonisable carbonaceous material dissolved therein and one or more additional materials in the form of particles suspended therein.
7. Method according to Claim 6 wherein the suspended particles are of size less than 10 microns diameter.
8. Method according to Claim 6 or 7 wherein the suspended particles comprise carbonaceous material selected from carbon and carbonisable material.
9. Method according to Claim 8 wherein the suspended carbonisable material comprises a pitch.
10. Method according to any one of Claims 5 to 9 wherein the one or more additional materials comprise a graphitisation catalyst and/or an antioxidant.
11. Method according to any one of Claims 5 to 10 wherein the one or more additional materials comprise boron and/or ceramic material.
12. Method according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the or each carbonisable carbonaceous material is one which, when carbonised, yields carbon having a true density greater than 1.7 g.cm~ .
13. Method according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the or each carbonisable carbonaceous material is of the high-char type.
14. Method according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the carbonisable carbonaceous material is one which, when carbonised, yields greater than 60% by weight of carbon.
15. Method according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the liquid medium with the carbonisable carbonaceous material and any additional materials carried thereby has a viscosity in the range 0.5 to 500 mN.sec.m'l as measured at 200C and atmospheric pressure.
16. Method according to Claim 15 wherein said viscosity is in the range 1 to 10 mN.sec.m 1 as measured at 20"C and atmospheric pressure.
17. Method according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein, after wetting the carbon fibre with the liquid medium, at least one further material in dry powder form is applied to the assembly while the liquid medium on the carbon fibre is in a tacky state.
18. Method according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the liquid medium is removed from the carbon fibre by evaporation.
19. Method according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the coated fibre assembly is consolidated by uniaxial compression at up to 5000C.
20. Method according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein, after consolidation, the coated fibre assembly is heated to graphitise the carbonisable carbonaceous material.
21. Method according to Claim 1 and substantially as described herein.
22. Carbon-carbon composite manufactured by a method according to any one of the preceding Claims.
23. Carbon-carbon composite according to Claim 22 -3 having a bulk density of at least 1.7 g.cm
24. Aircraft brake friction disc comprising carboncarbon composite according to Claim 22 or 23.
25. Moulding compound comprising an assembly of carbon fibre having a coating of carbonisable carbonaceous material deposited from a solution and/or suspension of the material in a liquid medium.
26. Moulding compound according to Claim 25 and substantially as described herein.
27. Carbon-carbon composite manufactured from a moulding compound according to Claim 25 or 26.
GB9302239A 1992-02-06 1993-02-05 Carbon-carbon composite material Withdrawn GB2263904A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB929202486A GB9202486D0 (en) 1992-02-06 1992-02-06 Carbon-carbon composite material

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9302239D0 GB9302239D0 (en) 1993-03-24
GB2263904A true GB2263904A (en) 1993-08-11

Family

ID=10709907

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB929202486A Pending GB9202486D0 (en) 1992-02-06 1992-02-06 Carbon-carbon composite material
GB9302239A Withdrawn GB2263904A (en) 1992-02-06 1993-02-05 Carbon-carbon composite material

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB929202486A Pending GB9202486D0 (en) 1992-02-06 1992-02-06 Carbon-carbon composite material

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0625131A1 (en)
AU (1) AU3459293A (en)
GB (2) GB9202486D0 (en)
WO (1) WO1993016013A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2905696A1 (en) * 2006-09-07 2008-03-14 Astrium Sas Soc Par Actions Si Preparing a carbon precursor for densification of carbon composite comprises mixing pitch and solvent, separating obtained solid phase from liquid phase and recovering liquid phase as impregnation solution for preparation of precursor
US20210086474A1 (en) * 2018-05-03 2021-03-25 Skc Co., Ltd. Multilayer graphite sheet with excellent electromagnetic shielding capability and thermal conductivity and manufacturing method therefor

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2103908A1 (en) * 1971-01-28 1972-08-17 Fitzer E Composite material - contg carbon fibres and carbonisable polymers
GB1383864A (en) * 1972-02-12 1974-02-12 Sigri Elektrographit Gmbh Production of thermally stable fibre-reinforced composite bodies

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3766521D1 (en) * 1986-03-27 1991-01-17 Allied Corp METHOD FOR GIVING IMPROVED STATIC FRICTION PROPERTIES TO BRAKE MATERIALS CONTAINING CARBON.
EP0251596A1 (en) * 1986-06-25 1988-01-07 E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Improvement of carbon fiber strength
US4975261A (en) * 1987-09-22 1990-12-04 Petoca Ltd. Process for producing high strength carbon-carbon composite
DE3855100T2 (en) * 1987-12-28 1996-08-01 Kawasaki Heavy Ind Ltd Process for the production of carbon material and carbon-carbon composites
JPH01252577A (en) * 1988-04-01 1989-10-09 Nippon Oil Co Ltd Production of carbon/carbon composite material
JPH0323265A (en) * 1989-06-16 1991-01-31 Akebono Brake Res & Dev Center Ltd Hybrid c/c composite for friction material and production thereof

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2103908A1 (en) * 1971-01-28 1972-08-17 Fitzer E Composite material - contg carbon fibres and carbonisable polymers
GB1383864A (en) * 1972-02-12 1974-02-12 Sigri Elektrographit Gmbh Production of thermally stable fibre-reinforced composite bodies

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
WPI Abstract 77-55169T/35; & DE-A-2103908 *

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2905696A1 (en) * 2006-09-07 2008-03-14 Astrium Sas Soc Par Actions Si Preparing a carbon precursor for densification of carbon composite comprises mixing pitch and solvent, separating obtained solid phase from liquid phase and recovering liquid phase as impregnation solution for preparation of precursor
US20210086474A1 (en) * 2018-05-03 2021-03-25 Skc Co., Ltd. Multilayer graphite sheet with excellent electromagnetic shielding capability and thermal conductivity and manufacturing method therefor
US11745463B2 (en) * 2018-05-03 2023-09-05 Skc Co., Ltd. Multilayer graphite sheet with excellent electromagnetic shielding capability and thermal conductivity and manufacturing method therefor

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9202486D0 (en) 1992-03-25
AU3459293A (en) 1993-09-03
GB9302239D0 (en) 1993-03-24
WO1993016013A1 (en) 1993-08-19
EP0625131A1 (en) 1994-11-23

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JP4226100B2 (en) Carbon fiber reinforced composite material and method for producing the same
US4490201A (en) Method of fabricating carbon composites
US4321298A (en) Carbon fabrics sequentially resin coated with (1) a metal-containing composition and (2) a boron-containing composition are laminated and carbonized
US3671385A (en) Fibrous carbonaceous composites and method for manufacturing same
US20100018815A1 (en) C-c composite brakes with improved wear rates
JPH11505205A (en) Fast molding process for fiber preforms and structural composites
WO2006101799A2 (en) Carbon fiber containing ceramic particles
US5597611A (en) Reinforced carbon composites
GB2475233A (en) Process for forming carbon fibre reinforced ceramic composite
CN101687715A (en) Improvements in or relating to brake and clutch discs
GB2263904A (en) Carbon-carbon composite material
EP4137313A1 (en) Method for manufacturing composite fiber preform for disc brakes
JPH069270A (en) Preparation of carbon/carbon composite material part using mesophase powder
GB2112827A (en) Carbon fiber materials
RU2170220C1 (en) Method of preparing carbon-carbon composite material
EP0539476A1 (en) Carbon-carbon composite material.
US4152381A (en) Method for preparing metallated filament-wound structures
JPH0244019A (en) Impregnating pitch for producing carbon composite material reinforced with carbon fiber and its production
CN101688007A (en) Improvements in or relating to brake and clutch discs
JP3138718B2 (en) Method for producing carbon fiber reinforced carbon material
EP4140968A1 (en) Method for manufacturing composite fiber preform for disc brakes
KR970008693B1 (en) Process for the preparation of carbon composite material
JP3548597B2 (en) Oxidation-resistant treatment method of carbon fiber reinforced carbon composite
Jagtoyen et al. Carbon fiber composite molecular sieves for gas separation
JPH03197360A (en) Production of carbon fiber-reinforced carbon material

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)