Apparatus for carbon fiber processing and pitch densification

摘要

A pitch densification apparatus may be used to form a carbon-carbon composite material. The apparatus may be used to compress a carbon fiber material, and, thereafter, pitch densify the carbon fiber material. The compression and pitch densification of the carbon fiber material may be carried out within the same mold cavity of the pitch densification apparatus. In one example, an apparatus may comprise a mold defining a mold cavity that is configured to receive a material to be densified. The mold cavity is configured to be adjusted from a first volume to a second volume less than the first volume to compress the material in the mold cavity. The example apparatus may further comprise a gas source configured to apply a gas pressure in the mold cavity to force pitch into the material in the mold cavity to densify the material, and a vacuum source configured to create a vacuum pressure in the mold cavity at least prior to the application of the gas pressure.