Comparative study on the mechanical behavior of carbon weft-knitted biaxial fabrics stitched by polyester fibers and preoxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers

Abstract

The carbon weft-knitted biaxial fabrics stitched by polyester fibers and preoxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers were prepared respectively. Tensile and tearing tests of two types of carbon biaxial weft-knitted fabrics stitched by different fibers were carried out. Stress–strain and load–displacement curves were obtained according to the testing data. The high-speed camera was employed to observe the whole testing process and series of still images were picked up according to the time nodes to analyze the meso-scale mechanism of the extension and displacement of tows on oriented layers and stitching yarns. The properties of the two fabrics were compared based on the research of the stitching yarns mechanical performance. The researching results indicated that preoxidized polyacrylonitrile fiber exhibit higher mechanical behaviors, and its fabric bond displays excellent performance.