TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a carbon fiber-reinforced molded article.

BACKGROUND ART

A composite material that includes fibers formed of a carbon material and structures formed on the surfaces of the fibers has been proposed (for example, Patent Literature 1). In Patent Literature 1, the structure includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes, the plurality of carbon nanotubes form a network structure in which they are directly connected to each other, and adhere directly to the surfaces of the fibers. According to the description, molded articles that include such a composite material can exhibit original functions that fibers can exhibit and at the same time can exert functions such as electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and mechanical strength which are derived from CNTs.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: International Publication No. WO 2014/175319

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

With regard to a molded article in which carbon fibers are used as a composite material (which will hereinafter be referred to as a “carbon fiber-reinforced molded article”), applications have been expanding in various fields such as aircraft, automobiles, general industries, and sporting goods. Requirements on properties such as strength for carbon fiber-reinforced molded articles have become ever more stringent.

For carbon fiber-reinforced molded articles, in addition to strength, faster damping of vibrations enabling absorption of impacts, or so-called damping property, is also required. A carbon fiber-reinforced molded article that has high intensity and is excellent in its damping properties has not yet been obtained.

In view of this, an object of the present invention is to provide a carbon fiber-reinforced molded article that has high intensity and is excellent in damping properties.

Solution to Problem

A carbon fiber-reinforced molded article in accordance with the present invention is a carbon fiber-reinforced molded article that includes an arranged composite material and a cured resin product, wherein the composite material includes a carbon fiber bundle in which a plurality of continuous carbon fibers are arranged and carbon nanotubes adhering to respective surfaces of the carbon fibers, and a modulus of elasticity obtained by conducting a three-point bending test with a cushioning material is smaller than a modulus of elasticity obtained by conducting the three-point bending test without the cushioning material.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

Since the carbon fiber-reinforced molded article of the present invention includes the composite material and the cured resin product and the modulus of elasticity according to the three-point bending test with the cushioning material is smaller than the modulus of elasticity according to the three-point bending test without the cushioning material, it can be said that the damping properties are excellent.

Furthermore, in the composite material contained in the carbon fiber-reinforced molded article of the present invention, the CNTs adhere to the respective surfaces of the carbon fibers in the carbon fiber bundles. By virtue of this, the carbon fiber-reinforced molded article of the present invention can exhibit higher strength.

