Structure of carbon fiber obtained from nanotube-reinforced mesophase pitch Original Research Article

Flow-induced orientation of discotic mesophase precursor typically leads to a center-origin, radial microstructure in the resulting carbon fibers. In the present study, we report the microstructure of carbon fibers that were derived from mesophase pitch that was modified using carbon multi-wall nanotubes (MWNTs). For an MWNT content as low as 0.1 wt.%, the microstructure was found to be fairly random (rather than radial).