Chiang Mai Journal of Science

A simply and low-cost current heating technique of EE pencil rod (Steadtler; Germany) was developed to fabricate nanofibers for using as reinforcement purposes in application of composite materials. Based on using an arc discharge apparatus, a common pencil rod as the source material was heated by moderate current to produce masses of fibers under an argon gas atmosphere. Morphology, particular structure and chemical compositions of the nanofibers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) and X-ray diffractrometry (XRD) techniques. The SEM micrographs show that the synthesized nanofibers were found to have two types (1) regular type of 80-300 nm in diameters. (2) bead type of 600-1200 nm in the bead diameters and the nanofibers connecting these beads diameters ranging from 200-600 nm. The crystal structure of the nanofibers was also studies by X-ray diffractrometry technique. The synthesized nanofibers consisted of cubic silicon carbide (SiC) and orthorhombic aluminium tetroxycarbide (Al₄O₄C).