Method for Determining Fiber Volume Fraction in Carbon/Epoxy Composites Considering Oxidation of Carbon Fiber

Measuring fiber volume fraction properly is very important in designing composite materials because the fiber volume fraction mainly determines mechanical and thermal properties. Conventional Ignition methods are effective for ceramic fiber reinforcing composite materials. However, these methods are not proper for applying to carbon fiber reinforcing composites because of the venerable characteristic against oxidation of carbon fiber. In the research, fiber volume fraction of carbon fiber composites was obtained by a thermogravimetric analysis considering oxidation characteristic of the carbon fiber and the method was compared and verified with the results from microscopic cross section images.