Systems and methods are provided for fabrication of enhanced carbon fiber laminates that utilize encapsulated catalyst. One embodiment is a method that includes acquiring a batch of dry fibers, and acquiring a batch of catalyst capsules that each comprise catalyst that accelerates polymerization of monomers of a resin, and a shell that encapsulates the catalyst and liquefies at a curing temperature. The method further includes interspersing the catalyst capsules among the dry fibers, and impregnating the fibers with the resin after interspersing the catalyst capsules with the fibers.

A method for manufacturing carbon fiber, the method includes: placing a carbon fiber as an anode in an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte is nitric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, ammonium bicarbonate, sodium hydroxide, or potassium nitrate; and performing a surface treatment, wherein a surface of the carbon fiber is oxidized by active oxygen generated by anodic electrolysis, and thereby oxygen-containing functional groups are introduced to the surface. The disclosure also provides a carbon fiber composite bottle, which includes a bottle body and a carbon fiber. The bottle body is a type III bottle or a type IV bottle. The carbon fiber surrounds the bottle body, the surface oxygen concentration of the carbon fiber is 5-35%, and the surface roughness of the carbon fiber is 5-25 nm.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sizing agent composition that gives a carbon fiber from which a carbon fiber-reinforced composite material having excellent adhesion between a resin and the carbon fiber and having excellent mechanical properties can be formed. The sizing agent composition of the invention is a sizing agent composition comprising (A) a blocked isocyanate, and (B) a compound containing at least one polar group and at least one unsaturated group per molecule. In the invention, the mixing ratio (mass ratio) of the blocked isocyanate (A) and the compound (B) containing at least one polar group and at least one unsaturated group per molecule (A/B) is preferably 95/5 to 5/95. In the invention, the blocked isocyanate (A) is preferably a compound having an aliphatic skeleton.

The present disclosure relates to a hydrogel fibre comprising an ionic hydrogel and a second component in a plurality of compartments, wherein the second component is selected from a second hydrogel, a hydrophilic solution, or a mixture thereof. It is also disclosed the method to obtain the aforesaid hydrogel fibres. This disclosure also relates to a composition comprising the hydrogel fibres and a suitable carrier, and an article/kit, a bundle, a mesh or a membrane comprising the hydrogel fibre. A composition comprising an ionic hydrogel and a second component for use in medicine administered in a hydrogel fibre comprising a plurality of compartments is also disclosed.

A fiber comprises a bulk material comprising: one or more of carbon, silicon, boron, silicon carbide, and boron nitride; and a metal or metal alloy whose affinity for oxygen is greater than that of the bulk material. At least a first portion of the metal or metal alloy is present at the entrance to grain boundaries at the surface of the fiber and within the fiber to a depth of at least 1 micron from the fiber surface. A method of improving a fiber comprises heating a fiber in an inert atmosphere to 900-1300 C for sufficient time to allow at least some of a metal or metal alloy, placed on the fiber, to diffuse and/or flow into and along grain boundaries to a depth of at least 1 micron. The metal or metal alloy has a greater affinity for oxygen than that of the fiber bulk material.

A fiber comprises a bulk material comprising: one or more of carbon, silicon, boron, silicon carbide, and boron nitride; and a metal or metal alloy whose affinity for oxygen is greater than that of the bulk material. At least a first portion of the metal or metal alloy is present at the entrance to grain boundaries at the surface of the fiber and within the fiber to a depth of at least 1 micron from the fiber surface. A method of improving a fiber comprises heating a fiber in an inert atmosphere to 900-1300 C for sufficient time to allow at least some of a metal or metal alloy, placed on the fiber, to diffuse and/or flow into and along grain boundaries to a depth of at least 1 micron. The metal or metal alloy has a greater affinity for oxygen than that of the fiber bulk material.

Graphene has been used in nanocomposites as constituents/doping in plastics or epoxy providing dramatic enhancement of the mechanical properties but have not progressed past the laboratory level novelty. This invention can provide a graphene based composite structure with a density less that 1.9 g/cm.sup.3 for a fiber, yarn, rope or cable and a density less that 1.5 g/cm.sup.3 for a sheet both structure have tensile and shear strength greater than either Aluminum or Steel; thus providing a graphene material that is both much lighter and stronger.

Graphene has been used in nanocomposites as constituents/doping in plastics or epoxy providing dramatic enhancement of the mechanical properties but have not progressed past the laboratory level novelty. This invention can provide a graphene based composite structure with a density less that 1.9 g/cm.sup.3 for a fiber, yarn, rope or cable and a density less that 1.5 g/cm.sup.3 for a sheet both structure have tensile and shear strength greater than either Aluminum or Steel; thus providing a graphene material that is both much lighter and stronger.

Provided are carbon fibers rich in surface functional groups, which has been recovered by thermolysis and anodization of a carbon-fiber-reinforced composite material. Also provided is a carbon-fiber-reinforced resin composition characterized by having excellent mechanical characteristics and an excellent surface appearance at a low cost as a result of using said carbon fibers.

Disclosed is an apparatus for manufacturing a carbon nanotube fiber.