Effect of carbon fabric whiskerization on mechanical properties of C-C composites

Carbon fabric whiskerization via a direct, non-catalytic SiC whisker formation was investigated as a method to increase the shear and transverse properties of carbon-carbon (C-C) composites. The whiskers were produced via a SiO gas reaction with the carbon fiber surface. A variable level of whisker's population density was achieved by varing the whiskerization conditions. The flexure strength of phenolic resin-derived C-C composites made with the whiskerized fabric was found to be decreasing with increasing the extent of the fiber whiskerization. A 300% increase in the interlaminar strength (ILT) combined with a 250% increase in the interlaminar shear strength (ILS) was found in the case of the composites made with a low whiskerized fabric. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Limited.