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Mechanical And Electrical Characterization Of Carbon Nanofibers Produced From Water Soluble Precursors, Lee D. Cremar, Javier Acosta-Martinez, Alexsandra Villarreal, Alfonso Salinas, Karen Lozano

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study presents the thermo-physical, electrical, and mechanical characterization of fine carbon fibers produced from water-soluble polymer precursors and low temperature processes. These fibers were developed utilizing the Forcespinning® technology which utilizes centrifugal force to spin fibers. Polyvinyl alcohol was used as the precursor material, and fibers were developed and deposited in a non-woven configuration. The resultant non-woven fiber mats were subjected to a dehydration process through exposure to sulfuric acid vapors. The partially carbonized mats were heat treated at 850 °C. The produced porous nonwoven carbon fiber based mats have micro-and mesoporosity with a final fiber average diameter of …