Carbon fiber structures having improved interlaminar properties

Abstract

A carbon fiber structure suitable for use in high performance composites which structure is characterized by a primary carbon fiber structure having carbon filaments grown therefrom, wherein substantially all of the filaments are in the form selected from branched, spiral, helical, or a combination thereof. The carbon filaments are grown from the carbon fibers by use of an alloy catalyst comprises of a first metal selected from Group IB of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and one or more metals from a second group of metals selected from iron, nickel, cobalt, and zinc; and optionally a metal from a third group of metals selected from titanium, tungsten, tin and tantalum.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.