Abstract
Rigid porous carbon fiber composites with the uniform pore size distribution were prepared by vacuum forming from water slurries containing carbonized PAN fibers, a phenolic resin and ceramic binders. The composites were designed to use for highly efficient carbon fiber filters for particulate filtration and gas adsorption. As the as-received carbon fibers of 1mm in length were milled to an approximate average length of 300${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$, modulus of rupture (MOR) of the composite filter was increased from 1MPa to the value larger than 5 MPa. Modulus of rupture (MOR) for the composite filter fabricated using the milled carbon fiber was increased from 5 MPa to 10 MPa as the carbonization temperature of the PAN fiber was raised from 90$0^{\circ}C$ to 140$0^{\circ}C$. The air permeability and an average pore size of the composite filter were increased from 40 to 270cc/min.$\textrm{cm}^2$ and from 35 to 80${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$, respectively, as the apparent porosity increased from 80 to 95%. It was shown that the MOR of the carbon fiber composite filter was dependent primarily on the average length of carbon fiber, carbonization temperature and the type of bonding materials.
