ESCA STUDIES OF CARBON AND OXYGEN IN CARBON-FIBERS

Seven commercial carbon fibre qualities have been studied, two from Torayca, two from Courtaulds and three from Union Carbide. These carbon fibres can be divided into three groups, Type 1 Torayca M40A and Courtaulds HM-S; Type 2, Union Carbide Thornel 300 and two types of Union Carbide 'pitch' carbon fibre and Type 3 Torayca T200A and Courtaulds A-S. The ESCA examination shows that the Type 1 carbon fibres have a structure more similar to the graphite structure than the other two types of carbon fibres. The examination also shows that one type of the pitch carbon fibres has a large amount of oxygen single bonded to carbon within the fibre. The studies also indicate for Types 2, 3 and 'pitch' carbon fibres that besides oxygen atoms, sulphur and/or chlorine atoms are bonded to carbon atoms within the fibres. © 1979.