Carbon fibre-reinforced carbon aerogel composites (C/CAs) were prepared by using polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and phenolic (PH) carbon precursor fibres as reinforcements, respectively, then impregnated with resorcinol-formaldehyde sol, aging, solvent exchanging, CO2 supercritical drying and carbonization at 1000°C. The physical properties, structural morphology and mechanical and thermal insulation behaviour of the two kinds of composites were further compared. Pore structure analysis shows that the PH-based C/CAs have a larger specific surface area (438.92 m2·g−1) and richer mesoporous volume than the PAN-based C/CAs. Mechanical behaviour of the C/CAs has been changed, but the stronger enhancement effects belong to PAN-based C/CAs (compressive strength in xy and z-directions are 1.63±0.10 MPa and 1.22±0.19 MPa, bending strength is 3.62±0.50 MPa). However, the PH-based C/CA composites have relatively low thermal conductivities, ranging from 0.027 to 0.164 W·m−1·K−1 between 25 and 1800°C.
FengJ, FengJ, ZhangC.Thermal conductivity of low density carbon aerogels. J Porous Mater. 2012;19:551–556.
7.
HanzawaY, HatoriH, YoshizawaN, Structural changes in carbon aerogels with high temperature treatment. Carbon. 2002;40:575–581.
8.
BienerJ, StadermannM, SussM, Advanced carbon aerogels for energy applications. Energy Environ Sci. 2011;4:656–667.
9.
WienerM, ReichenauerG, HembergerF, Thermal conductivity of carbon aerogels as a function of pyrolysis temperature. Int J Thermophys. 2006;27:1826–1843.
GuoH, SuLJ, LiWJ, Study of carbon aerogel composites for thermal protection applications. Key Eng Mater. 2020;845:9–14.
12.
AttiaM, IsmailWIA, MossadMM.Characterization of pure and composite resorcinol formaldehyde aerogels doped with copper. Egypt J Phys. 2017;45:11–22.
13.
KimJH, KimKH, ParkMS, Cu nanoparticle-embedded carbon foams with improved compressive strength and thermal conductivity. Carbon Lett. 2016;17:65–69.
14.
LiuB, JuW, ZhangJ, Improvement of mechanical strength of ultralight resorcinol–formaldehyde/silica aerogel by addition of zirconia. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol. 2017;83:100–108.
SerajiMM, KianersiS, HosseiniH S, Performance evaluation of glass and rock wool fibers to improve thermal stability and mechanical strength of monolithic phenol-formaldehyde based carbon aerogels. J Non-Cryst Solids. 2018;491:89–97.
17.
YeC, ZhangR, AnZ, A machinable carbon aerogel composite with a low thermal conductivity and enhanced mechanical properties. Adv Appl Ceram. 2018;117:468–475.
18.
YangJ, LiS, LuoY, Compressive properties and fracture behavior of ceramic fiber-reinforced carbon aerogel under quasi-static and dynamic loading. Carbon. 2011;49:1542–1546.
19.
SchmittC, PröbstleH, FrickeJ.Carbon cloth-reinforced and activated aerogel films for supercapacitors. J Non-Cryst Solids. 2001;285:277–282.
20.
WangJ, GloraM, PetricevicR, Carbon cloth reinforced carbon aerogel films derived from resorcinol formaldehyde. J Porous Mater. 2001;8:159–165.
21.
DrachV, WienerM, ReichenauerG, Determination of the anisotropic thermal conductivity of a carbon aerogel–fiber composite by a non-contact thermographic technique. Int J Thermophys. 2007;28:1542–1562.
22.
FengJ, ZhangC, FengJ, Carbon aerogel composites prepared by ambient drying and using oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers as reinforcements. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2011;3:4796–4803.
23.
FengJ, ZhangC, FengJ.Carbon fiber reinforced carbon aerogel composites for thermal insulation prepared by soft reinforcement. Mater Lett. 2012;67:266–268.
24.
ŌtaniS.On the carbon fiber from the molten pyrolysis products. Carbon. 1965;3:31–38.
25.
SymingtonMC, BanksWM, WestOD, Tensile testing of cellulose based natural fibers for structural composite applications. J Compos Mater. 2009;43:1083–1108.
26.
ShimazakiK, HiraiM.Studies on preparation of polyacrylonitrile based activated carbon fiber. Nippon kagaku kaishi. 1992;7:739–744.
27.
MangunCL, BenakKR, EconomyJ, Surface chemistry: pore sizes and adsorption properties of activated carbon fibers and precursors treated with ammonia. Carbon. 2001;39:1809–1820.
28.
MacnairRN, AronsGN, CoffinLG.Activated carbon fibers and fabrics. Carbon. 1975;13:554.
29.
NaitoK, TanakaY, YangJM, Tensile properties of ultrahigh strength PAN-based,: ultrahigh modulus pitch-based and high ductility pitch-based carbon fibers. Carbon. 2008;46:189–195.
LiH, YaoD, FuQ, Anti-oxidation and ablation properties of carbon/carbon composites infiltrated by hafnium boride. Carbon. 2013;52:418–426.
32.
ThommesM, KanekoK, NeimarkAV, Physisorption of gases: with special reference to the evaluation of surface area and pore size distribution (IUPAC technical report). Pure Appl Chem. 2015;87:1051–1069.
