Studies on Preparation and Characterization of Aluminum Nitride-Coated Carbon Fibers and Thermal Conductivity of Epoxy Matrix Composites

In this work; the effects of an aluminum nitride (AlN) ceramic coating on the thermal conductivity of carbon fiber-reinforced composites were studied. AlN were synthesized by a wet-thermal treatment (WTT) method in the presence of copper catalysts. The WTT method was carried out in a horizontal tube furnace at above 1500 degrees C under an ammonia (NH3) gas atmosphere balanced by a nitrogen using aluminum chloride as a precursor. Copper catalysts pre-doped enhance the interfacial bonding of the AlN with the carbon fiber surfaces. They also help to introduce AlN bonds by interrupting aluminum oxide (Al2O3) formation in combination with oxygen. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM); Transmission electron microscopy (TEM); and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to analyze the carbon fiber surfaces and structures at each step (copper-coating step and AlN formation step). In conclusion; we have demonstrated a synthesis route for preparing an AlN coating on the carbon fiber surfaces in the presence of a metallic catalyst.