Dezhou Junteng Material Technology Co., Ltd. has developed an approach for using carbon/carbon (C/C) composites as flexible, bendable electrical heating elements, with electrical resistance engineered to match the requirements of different high-temperature heating systems. The technology expands the use of C/C composites beyond conventional structural and thermal-management applications. (linkedin.com)
Rather than treating electrical resistance as an inherent material property, Junteng controls it through several parameters during composite development and processing. These include the carbon-fiber-to-carbon-matrix ratio, heat-treatment temperature, internal void structure, and final component geometry. Adjusting these factors changes the conductive pathways within the composite and allows resistance to be tailored for specific heating configurations.
The manufacturing process begins with a carbon-fiber preform, with Junteng controlling parameters such as the ratio of woven fabric to felt, needling density, and interlayer density. The preform is subsequently converted into a C/C structure using chemical vapor deposition, liquid-phase impregnation, and densification. Surface treatments can also be applied to improve resistance to oxidation and erosion in demanding operating environments.
The resulting heating elements combine the electrical functionality of the carbon network with the high-temperature capability of C/C composites. This approach can allow heating elements to conform to complex geometries while providing resistance characteristics designed around the equipment rather than relying on a fixed-resistivity material.
Junteng also manufactures C/C insulation boards, plates, fasteners, and thermal-field components for high-temperature applications, including equipment used in silicon crystal growth. Its portfolio also includes load-bearing C/C components designed for oxygen-free high-temperature environments.
The development highlights a broader opportunity for C/C composites to serve as multifunctional materials, where fiber architecture, carbon structure, porosity, processing conditions, and component geometry can be engineered simultaneously to deliver both structural and electrical performance.
Source: SAMPE CHINA | LinkedIn
