Claims
- 1. A composition of matter comprising: graphite fibers having a diameter from 1 to 30 microns coated with 1.0 to 10% by weight of a salt of metal having a work function below 4.2 eV and said fibers being embedded in a binder resin.
- 2. A composition according to claim 1 in which the fibers are in the form of a multifilament yarn.
- 3. A composition according to claim 1 in which the coating is present in an amount from 1% to 5% by weight of the fibers.
- 4. A composition according to claim 1 in which the binder resin is selected from epoxy, polyester, phenolic, silicone or polyimide resins.
- 5. A composition according to claim 4 in which the resin is an epoxy.
- 6. A composition according to claim 4 in which the coating material is an alkaline earth metal salt.
- 7. A composition according to claim 6 in which the anion of the salt is an organic acid.
- 8. A composition according to claim 7 in which the anion is acetate.
- 9. A composition according to claim 7 in which the metal is selected from calcium, barium and strontium.
- 10. A composition according to claim 1 further including 0.1 to 10% by weight of the salt dispersed in the binder resin.
- 11. A method of forming a gasifiable fiber comprising the steps of:
- applying a coating of a salt having a work function below 4.2 eV to the exterior surface of a fine graphite fiber; and dispersing the coated fibers in a binder resin and curing the resin to form a composite.
- 12. A method according to claim 11 in which the salt is applied to the fiber from a solution and further including the step of drying the solution to form a coating.
- 13. A method according to claim 11 further including the step of pretreating the fiber by subjecting the fiber to an arc or plasma before applying the solution thereto.
- 14. A method according to claim 11 further including the step of dispersing 0.1 to 20% by weight of the salt in the binder resin.
DESCRIPTION
The invention described herein was made in the performance of work under a NASA contract and is subject to the provisions of Section 305 of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, Public Law 83-568 (72 Stat. 435; 42 USC 2457).
US Referenced Citations (4)