Carbonization with Misfusion: Fundamental Limits of Carbon-Fiber Strength Revisited.

Gupta, Nitant; Artyukhov, Vasilii I; Penev, Evgeni S; Yakobson, Boris I · Adv Mater · 2016

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

D-loops, a new type of structural defect in carbon fibers, are presented, which have highly detrimental effect on their mechanical properties and can define a new fundamental upper limit to their strength. These defects form exclusively during polyacrylonitrile carbonization, act as stress concentrators in the graphitic basal plane, and cannot be removed by local annealing.