Injection and stabilization of mesophase pitch in the fabrication of carbon-carbon composites. Part I. Injection process

The fabrication of carbon-carbon composites by injection of low viscosity mesophase pitch through a fiber preform followed by stabilization and carbonization was examined. The fully transformed mesophase MOMP and AR pitches were injected through either soft or rigidized disk preforms 35 mm thick and 68 mm in diameter. Injection provided good even filling of major flow channels and fiber bundles. Flow-induced fibrous microstructures were retained by quenching and preserved by stabilization upon carbonization. A second injection cycle was effective in filling voidage created by thermal densification. A third cycle was applied, but required severe injection conditions and provided only incremental improvement. The carbon-carbon composite reached a density of 1.8g/cm(3) after three injection cycles. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.