• Composites Research
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.390-394
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• 2020

The carbon fiber has been damaged via tow spreading process for carbon fiber spread tow. The fiber damage is caused by friction between equipment and fibers or between fibers and fibers in the process of spreading. As a result, mechanical properties are decreased due to differences in process via material and equipment condition. Therefore, minimizing fiber damage have to be considered in the process. In this study, the change in carbon fiber pneumatic spreading process was observed by according to the filament count, sizing content of carbon fiber and process variables in spreading equipment (fiber tension at the beginning, air temperature in spreading zone, vacuum pressure in spreading zone). Tensile strength was evaluated using samples prepared under optimal conditions for each of the carbon fiber varieties, and mechanical properties were reduced due to damage on the carbon fiber.