Continuous Preparation of Carbon Nanotubes/Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Using Fe-Ni Bimetallic Catalyst

Surface modification of carbon fibers (CFs) is a critical step in preparing carbon fiber-reinforced composites. This study developed a continuous experimental process that integrates electrochemical anodic oxidation and chemical vapor deposition to fabricate carbon nanotubes/carbon fiber (CNTs/CF) reinforcements. The effects of temperature and hydrogen flow rate during CNT growth on the resulting reinforcements were systematically investigated. The surface morphology and mechanical properties of the modified materials were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and single-fiber tensile testing. Employing an Fe0.5Ni0.5 bimetallic catalyst under optimized conditions (550 °C, H2 flow rate: 0.45 mol/min, C2H2 flow rate: 0.30 mol/min), the resulting reinforcement exhibited an 8.7% increase in tensile strength compared to as-received CF.