SEDL / STP / STP580-EB / STP32333S

Thermal Conductivity of High-Modulus Carbon Fibers

Kalnin, IL
Research associate, Celanese Research Co., Summit, N.J.

Pages: 14    Published: Jan 1975

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Abstract

The axial thermal conductivity of high-modulus carbon fibers near room temperature is determined from the measured thermal conductivity of their unidirectional composites and also directly on a dry fiber bundle. A device providing the necessary thermal and electrical connections to the heated fiber bundle is described.

The thermal conductivity of 14 commercial carbon fiber grades ranged from 1.42 W/cm °C for the highest-modulus (GY-70) fiber to 0.03 for the low-modulus (VYB) one. Correlations are given between the thermal and the electrical conductivities and the fiber moduli. Above 0.1 W/cm °C the thermal conductivity increases linearly with the electrical conductivity or the elastic modulus, whereas below that value it becomes nearly independent of modulus, and is accompanied by a sharply decreased electrical conductivity.