Effect of carbon nanofiber dispersion on the properties of PIP-SiC/SiC composites

Taguchi, Tomitsugu; Hasegawa, Yoshio*; Shamoto, Shinichi  

The SiC/SiC composites with and without dispersed carbon nanofiber were fabricated by polymer impregnation and pyrolysis process. The effect of dispersing with 6 vol.% carbon nanofiber on the mechanical and thermal properties of SiC/SiC composites was investigated. The bending strength and elastic modulus of SiC/SiC composites with carbon nanofiber decreased slightly compared to those of the SiC/SiC composites without carbon nanofiber. On the other hand, the thermal conductivity of SiC/SiC composites increased with increasing the amount of dispersed carbon nanofiber. The dominant reason is considered that the pore shape changed from oblong shape vertical to direction of heat flow to isotropic shape by dispersing carbon nanofiber.