Carbon fibre tips for scanning probe microscopy based on quartz tuning fork force sensors

We report the fabrication and the characterization of carbon fibre tips for their use in combined scanning tunnelling and force microscopy based on piezoelectric quartz tuning fork force sensors. We find that the use of carbon fibre tips results in a minimum impact on the dynamics of quartz tuning fork force sensors yielding a high quality factor and consequently a high force gradient sensitivity. This high force sensitivity in combination with high electrical conductivity and oxidation resistance of carbon fibre tips make them very convenient for combined and simultaneous scanning tunnelling microscopy and atomic force microscopy measurements. Interestingly, these tips are quite robust against occasionally occurring tip crashes. An electrochemical fabrication procedure to etch the tips is presented that produces a sub-100 nm apex radius in a reproducible way which can yield high resolution images.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figure

Recycling of carbon fibre composites

A clear case for carbon fibre recovery and reuse exists on environmental grounds due to the high cost and energy use of virgin fibre production. On a specific energy basis, carbon fibres can be recovered at around 10% of the energy required to manufacture virgin fibres but the scale of the recovery process can make a large difference to overall cost effectiveness. This study will describe the technical and economic challenges associated with the recycling of carbon fibres, the state of the art in recycling technologies and the re-use of fibres in high performance composites

Carbon fibre composites: integrated electrochemical sensors for wound management

The applicability of employing a carbon fibre mesh as an electrochemical sensing substructure for assessing urate transformations within wound exudates is evaluated. Prototype sensor assemblies have been designed and their response characteristics towards uric acid and other common physiological components are detailed. Modification of the carbon fibre sensor through surface anodisation and the application of cellulose acetate permselective barriers have been shown to lead to optimized responses and much greater sensitivity (1440% increase) and specificity. These could enable the accurate periodic monitoring of uric acid in wound fluid. The performance characteristics of the composite sensors in whole blood, serum and blister fluid have been investigated

Characterization of elastic moduli of single fibres

The carbon fibre is one of most promising materials for high-performance composites since it is lightweight and strong. It has been widely used to build carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites. The carbon fibre dramatically reinforces the composite in the fibre direction. However, carbon fibre does not significantly reinforce the composite transverse to the fibres. The reason is in addition to the fibre geometry, that the mechanical properties of carbon fibre are anisotropic. Even though the strong anisotropy is well known, to date only the properties in axial direction have been accurately measured. Measurements in other directions, like the transverse direction, are challenging because the diameter of carbon fibre is only 5 to 7 \ub5m. Knowledge of the mechanical properties of carbon fibre is important, especially for micro-mechanical models to predict damage formation in CFRP. The small dimension of carbon fibre implies that only a limited set of instruments can be used to perform mechanical tests on it, such as nanoindentation and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Moreover, the high anisotropy of carbon fibre needs a special analysis method.In this thesis, we first study a fabrication routine for preparation of flat surfaces on carbon fibres using a focussed ion beam technique. A necessary and effective cleaning process to remove damaged surface from fabrication process is presented. We then perform indentation tests using both nanoindentation and AFM in two different directions. During the tests, a hysteresis behaviour of carbon fibre was observed and its influence on indentation moduli is discussed. Finally, we successfully determine both transverse and shear moduli of three different carbon fibres

Development of a carbon fibre composite active mirror: Design and testing

Carbon fibre composite technology for lightweight mirrors is gaining increasing interest in the space- and ground-based astronomical communities for its low weight, ease of manufacturing, excellent thermal qualities and robustness. We present here first results of a project to design and produce a 27 cm diameter deformable carbon fibre composite mirror. The aim was to produce a high surface form accuracy as well as low surface roughness. As part of this programme, a passive mirror was developed to investigate stability and coating issues. Results from the manufacturing and polishing process are reported here. We also present results of a mechanical and thermal finite element analysis, as well as early experimental findings of the deformable mirror. Possible applications and future work are discussed.Comment: Accepted by Optical Engineering. Figures 1-7 on http://www.star.ucl.ac.uk/~sk/OEpaper_files

The influence of toughening-particles in CFRPs on low velocity impact damage resistance performance

The role of particle-toughening for increasing impact damage resistance in carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites was investigated. Five carbon fibre reinforced systems consisting of four particle-toughened matrices and one system containing no toughening particles were subjected to low velocity impacts ranging from 25 J to 50 J to establish the impact damage resistance of each material system. Synchrotron radiation computed tomography (SRCT) enabled a novel approach for damage assessment and quantification. Toughening mechanisms were detected in the particle-toughened systems consisting of particle–resin debonding, crack-deflection and crack-bridging. Quantification of the bridging behaviour, increase in crack path length and roughness was undertaken. Out of the three toughening mechanisms measured, particle systems exhibited a larger extent of bridging suggesting a significant contribution of this toughening mechanism compared to the system with no particle

Design and Analysis of Carbon Fibre Composite Monorack Arm for Motorcycle

Monorack arm in the motorcycle is invented for the support of external topbox. However, load-bearing of the typical monorack arm made of common engineering metals is restricted to only 3 kilogram in which exceeding this load may result in failure. Therefore, alternative materials such as carbon fibre composite receives the spotlight for this project. With that being said, the project objectives were to propose several conceptual designs of monorack arm which were used to analyze with finite element methods. Next, fabrication of carbon fibre composite sample was required to perform experimental analysis. Accordingly, 3 conceptual designs of monorack arm in regard to design considerations under static stress application were established. Besides, 2 types of samples were fabricated for experimental analysis namely plain weave woven fabric carbon fibre and twill weave woven fabric carbon fibre. Samples of carbon fibre composites were fabricated to possess a higher fibre volume fraction than the matrix to add fibre strength in the composite. Final conceptual designs of monorack made were computed for structural analysis using ANSYS Workbench. During the simulation of conceptual models, design 2 of epoxy carbon woven (230 GPa) wet was found to show better structural results in comparison to other designs using the same material. Lastly, tensile test was performed on the fabricated test specimens of plain weave carbon fibre and twill weave carbon fibre according to ASTM standards whereby favourable results were shown to plain weave woven fabric carbon fibre

Mechanical characteristics of carbon fibre yacht masts

This paper provides a preliminary stress analysis of a carbon reinforced layered cylinder such as would be found in a yacht mast. The cylinder is subjected to a compressive load and both an analytical and numerical analysis of the resulting stress fields is obtained. Some conclusions are obtained regarding the failure mode for particular examples of such cylinders

Manufacturing of Composites by Pressure Infiltration, Structure and Mechanical Properties

This paper presents the possibility of composite block production by using pressure infiltration technology. This method uses the pressure of an inert gas (usually argon or nitrogen) to force the melted matrix material to infiltrate the reinforcing elements. Two types of materials were considered: metal matrix syntactic foam and carbon fibre reinforced metal matrix composite. Physical and mechanical investigations – such as optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractography (XRD), tensile and upsetting tests (considering aspect ratio) – were performed. The results of measurements are summarized briefly here. Microscopic investigations showed almost perfect infiltration. XRD measurements and tensile tests revealed negative effect of an intermetallic phase (Al(4)C(3)) on ultimate tensile strength (UTS). Syntactic foams showed plateau region in their upsetting diagrams. The effect of aspect ratio was also investigated. Specimens with higher aspect ratios showed higher peak stress and higher modulus of elasticity. In the case of carbon fibre reinforced metal matrix composites Al(4)C(3) ensured high compressive fracture strength