Performance of carbon-carbon composites is known to be influenced by the fibre matrix interactions. The present investigation was undertaken to ascertain the development of microstructure in such composites when carbon fibres possessing different surface energies (T-300, HM-35, P120 and Dialed 1370) and pitch matrices with different characteristics (Coal tar pitch SP110℃ and mesophase pitch SP285℃) are used as precursor materials. These composites were subjected to two different heat treatment temperatures of 1000℃ and 2600℃. Quite interesting changes in the crystalline parameters as well as the matrix microstructure are observed and attempt has been made to correlate these observations with the fibre matrix interactions.

Carbon/carbon composites were developed using PAN based carbon fibres and phenolic resin as matrix in different volume fractions and heat treated to temperatures between 1000℃ to 2500℃. Although both the starting precursors are nongraphitizing hard carbons individually, their composites lead to very interesting properties e.g. x-ray diffractograms show the development of graphitic phase for composites having fibre volume fractions of 30~40%. Consequently the electrical resistivity of such composites reaches a value of 0.8 mΩcm, very close to highly graphitic material. However, it was found that by increasing the fibre volume fraction to 50~60%, the trend is reversed. Optical microscopy of the composites also reveals the development of strong columnar type microstructure at the fibre (matrix interface due to stress graphitization of the matrix. The study forcasts a unique possibility of producing high thermal conductivity carbon/carbon composites starting with carbon fibres in the chopped form only.

Microstructure plays an important role in controlling the fracture behaviour of carbon-carbon composites and hence their mechanical properties. In the present study effort was made to understand how the different interfaces (fiber/matrix interactions) influence the development of microstructure of the matrix as well as that of carbon fibers as the heat treatment temperature of the carbon-carbon composites is raised. Three different grades of PAN based carbon fibres were selected to offer different surface characteristics. It is observed that in case of high-strength carbon fiber based carbon-carbon composites, not only the matrix microstructure is different but the texture of carbon fiber changes from isotropic to anisotropic after HTT to 2600℃. However, in case of intermediate and high modulus carbon fiber based carbon-carbon composites, the carbon fiber texture remains nearly isotropic at 2600℃ because of relatively weak fiber-matrix interactions.