This book was begun after three of the present authors gave a series of in vited talks on the subject of the structure and properties of carbon filaments. This was at a conference on the subject of optical obscuration, for which submicrometer diameter filaments with high length-to-diameter ratios have potential applications. The audience response to these talks illustrated the need of just one scientific community for a broader knowledge of the struc ture and properties of these interesting materials. Following the conference it was decided to expand the material presented in the conference proceedings. The aim was to include in a single volume a description of the physical properties of carbon fibers and filaments. The research papers on this topic are spread widely in the literature and are found in a broad assortment of physics, chemistry, materials science and engineering and polymer science journals and conference proceedings (some of which are obscure). Accordingly, our goal was to produce a book on the subject which would enable students and other researchers working in the field to gain an overview of the subject up to about 1987.

Conventional synthetic materials, like metals, ceramics or glass, are usually isotropic substances, and their suitability for structural applications is achieved by morphological design and combination in the macroscopic scale. However, in modem engineering this is often not acceptable. As an alternative, the use of non-homogeneous, anisotropic materials, with significant stiffness and strength only in the directions these mechanical properties are really needed, can lead to enormous material (and weight) savings. This is the case of multiphase systems called composite materials. In these composites, different material parts are added and arranged geometrically, under clearly designed and controlled conditions. Usually, a structure of fibers provides strength and stiffness and a matrix helds them together, whilst providing the geometric form. Carbon fibers are among the high-performance fibers employed in these advanced structural composites, which are profoundly changing many of today's high technology industries. New research and development challenges in this area include upgrading the manufacturing process of fibers and composites, in order to improve characteristics and reduce costs, and modifying the interfacial properties between fibers and matrix, to guarantee better mechanical properties. The interdisciplinary nature of this "new frontier" is obvious, involving chemistry, materials science, chemical and mechanical engineering. Other topics, which more often are treated separately, are also important for the understanding of the processes of fiber production. Carbon filaments is one such topic, as the study of their mechanisms of nucleation and growth is clearly quite relevant to the production of vapour-grown carbon fibers.

Most literature pertaining to carbon fibers is of a theoretical nature. Carbon Fibers and their Composites offers a comprehensive look at the specific manufacturing of carbon fibers and graphite fibers into the growing surge of diverse applications that include flameproof materials, protective coatings, biomedical and prosthetics application

The development of advanced composites, tion. Forecasts indicate that the potential spanning a brief period from inception to usage in automobiles in the early 1990's will application of only 15 to 20 years, epitomizes amount to millions of pounds of advanced the rapidity with which a generation's change composites. in the state-of-the-art can take place. This is in We find ourselves in a peculiar position. marked contrast to past history, in which it The hardware capability is progressing so has usually required 25 years or more of rapidly that the knowledge and familiarity of research before a new structural material was the designer can hardly keep pace. We have an technologically ready. obligation now not just to mature this ad In the mid-1950's the U.S. Air Force identi vanced technology and its applications, but fied the promise for early application of a new also to communicate the state-of-the-art to the class of materials-advanced composites designer in a form in which it can be applied and established its feasibility by the fabrication readily to practical structures. I believe that of raw fiber with exceptional strength- and this book, Handbook of Composites, will modulus-to-weight ratios. The practical fabrica clearly provide a portion of this missing link.

Military use of advanced polymer matrix composites (PMC)â€"consisting of a resin matrix reinforced by high-performance carbon or organic fibersâ€"while extensive, accounts for less that 10 percent of the domestic market. Nevertheless, advanced composites are expected to play an even greater role in future military systems, and DOD will continue to require access to reliable sources of affordable, high-performance fibers including commercial materials and manufacturing processes. As a result of these forecasts, DOD requested the NRC to assess the challenges and opportunities associated with advanced PMCs with emphasis on high-performance fibers. This report provides an assessment of fiber technology and industries, a discussion of R&D opportunities for DOD, and recommendations about accelerating technology transition, reducing costs, and improving understanding of design methodology and promising technologies.