Vapor grown carbon fibers from benzene pyrolysis: Filament length distributions Original Research Article

The fiber length distributions of carbon fibers grown on alumina substrates by the vapor phase decomposition of benzene have been measured at different lengthening times in the temperature range of 1283–1353 K and at two concentrations of benzene. The proportion of longer fibers increased with lengthening time. A two-parameter model has been used to compare the calculated and experimental fiber length distributions at various lengthening times. The evolution of the length distributions with time suggests the presence of an activation (of catalyst) step, leading to an induction phenomenon.