Pretreatment of carbon fibers: Surface characterization and effect on fiber/matrix interfacial adhesion and composite properties
- Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA (United States); and others
The nature of the fiber/matrix interphase has a critical influence on composite properties. The objectives of this work were to characterize the surface of carbon fibers before and after plasma pretreatment, to determine interfacial adhesion, and to fabricate and subsequently measure composite properties. Commercial carbon fibers were treated in low pressure air or oxygen rf plasmas. The fiber surface composition was determined by XPS; surface energy was obtained from dynamic contact angle analysis; and, topography was established using SEM. Surface roughness was measured quantitatively by AFM. Oxygen incorporated into the carbon fiber surface clearly produced high interfacial adhesion with an epoxy matrix. Fiber roughness passed through a maximum with increasing plasma exposure time. Composite properties were demonstrably different after plasma treatment of the carbon fibers.
- OSTI ID:
- 127071
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950402--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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