Production and characterization of polycarbonate composite sheets reinforced with vapor grown carbon fiber

This investigation describes fabrication of polymer composite sheets incorporated with vapor grown carbon nanofibers by a solutionevaporation and a rolling method, and a procedure to determine fiber dispersion, orientation state and electrical and mechanical properties. Microscopic analysis has shown a homogeneous dispersion of VGCFs in a polycarbonate matrix with no agglomerates and no shortening of the fibers. Higher amounts of VGCFs also were relatively well dispersed. The electrical resistivity and the tensile strength were decreased in both materials; the porosities were increased by the addition of the fibers. The rolling process improved the orientation of nanofibers and enhanced its mechanical properties. Thin composite sheets showed a high tensile modulus due to the compressor-processing effect. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.