3D mass-density imaging of carbon fibre nanostructures can be used to improve their tensile strength.

Manufacturing carbon fibre from polyacrylonitrile precursor is expensive. New lignin-based precursors, for carbon fibres with improved performance and reduced cost, are under development.

Honda R&D Europe (Deutschland) wanted to relate mechanical strength to high-temperature heat treatment, graphitisation, porosity and density within the fibre.

With 100 nanometre resolution, highly resolved 3D mass density maps of entire sections of single carbon fibres revealed the porosity and spatial distribution of graphitisation. This can be directly related to standard laboratory characterisations.

References

Characterization of carbon fibers using x-ray phase nanotomography
Diaz A, Guizar-Sicairos M, Poeppel M, Menzel A, Bunk O
Carbon. 2014;67:98.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2013.09.066

Partial financing of this work through the ColdWear project from industy partners Statoil ASA, Total E&P Norge AS, Janus Holdings AS, Weenaas AS, and Swix Sport AS.