Characterization of Intercalated Graphite Fibers for Microelectromechanical Systems Applications

<p>Research was accomplished to characterize the electrical and physical characteristic changes of the Thornelr P-100 carbon fiber when intercalated with 96 % sulfuric acid. This research incorporated the use of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) structures for testing purposes. MEMS were used to allow the testing of carbon fibers in an isolated micro-scale environment with mathematically proven physical models. The MEMS structures simplified the mathematics to characterize the carbon fibers' physical movement. Six fiber variants were tested during this research. The original fiber was one of the samples and was desized at 400 ◦C for 30 minutes in air. The rest of the fibers came from the desized original fiber and were modified in different ways. Three lengths of fiber tow were oxidized in 1 M nitric acid at 0.5 Amps for 30 seconds 1 minute and 2 minutes. Two other samples were detreated at 1150 ◦C in a vacuum for one hour prior to their nitric acid treatments of 1 and 2 minutes. Sulfuric acid is a very corrosive agent and reacts to most materials. Throughout this research that has been the key issue.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>