Enhanced thermal and electrical properties of epoxy/carbon fiber–silicon carbide composites

Abstract

The silicon carbide/carbon fiber (SiC/CF) hybrid fillers were introduced to improve the electrical and thermal conductivities of the epoxy resin composites. Results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the peaks at 3532 and 2850 cm−1 relate to carboxylic acid O–H stretching and aldehyde C–H stretching appearing deeper with an increased volume fraction of SiC. Scanning electron microscopic image shows a better interface bonding between the fiber and the matrix when the volume fraction of SiC particles are increased. As frequency increases from 102 Hz to 106 Hz, dielectric constants decrease slightly. Dissipation factor (tan δ) values keep low and almost constant from 102 Hz to 104 Hz, has a slight increase after 104 Hz, and obtain relaxation peaks approximately between 105 and 106 Hz. A sharp increase in dielectric constant and dissipation factors is observed in epoxy (Ep)/CF composites with 30 vol.% of SiC. The increase in electrical conductivity of composites may result from the increased chain ordering by annealing effect. The electrical conductivities of the Ep/CF composites are decreasing with the increasing volume fraction of SiC. It is attributed to the introduction of insulating SiC. The glass transition temperature (T g) of the Ep/CF-30 vol.% SiC composite was 352 C, which was higher than other composites. The decomposition temperature at 5% weight loss, decomposition temperature at 10% weight loss, and maximum decomposition temperature of the Ep/CF-30 vol.% SiC composite were about 389.5°C, 410.7°C, and 591°C, respectively, and were higher than pure epoxy and other composites. A higher thermal conductivity of 1.86 W (m K)−1 could be achieved with 30 vol.% SiC/CF hybrid fillers, which is about nine times higher than that of native epoxy resin of 0.202 W (m.K)−1.