New origin of spirals and new growth process of carbon whiskers Original Research Article

A new kind of carbon whisker, different from others, has been found by means of high resolution electron microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Carbon layers are almost perpendicular to the whisker axis and a spiral structure is formed around it. Structure analysis indicates the growth process consists of two stages; firstly, carbon layers stacked in turbostratic manner, and then gradually graphitized. Accordingly, the final structure of whiskers is perfect graphitized texture. The spirals are not similar to the so-called ‘growth spirals’ formed by the screw dislocation mechanism, and a more reasonable growth mechanism of whiskers is suggested in accordance with the analysis.