Influence of the carbon fiber surface microstructure on the surface chemistry generated by a thermo-chemical surface treatment

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2012 · Applied Surface Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2012.08.038· OSTI ID:1055066

Vautard, Frederic ^[1]; Ozcan, Soydan ^[1]; Paulauskas, Felix L ^[1]; Spruiell, J. E. ^[2]; Meyer, III, Harry M ^[1]; Lance, Michael J ^[1]

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1. ORNL
2. University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK)

Carbon fibers made of textile and aerospace grade polyacrylonitrile precursor fibers were surface treated by a continuous gas phase thermo-chemical treatment. The surface chemistry generated by the surface treatment was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The surface and the average entire micro-structure of the fibers were characterized by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. Depending on the grade of the precursor, the final surface concentration of oxygen was comprised between 14% and 24%, whereas the typical commercial electro-chemical surface treatments led to concentrations of around 8% with the same fibers. The final concentration of oxygen was directly correlated to the size of the crystallites which was a function of the grade of the polyacrylonitrile precursor and to the corresponding surface micro-structure. The thermo-chemical surface treatment enabled a better control of the nature of the oxygen-containing functionalities as well. Whatever the grade of the precursor, desired hydroxyl groups and carboxylic acid functionalities were preferably generated, which was not observed with electro-chemical surface treatments.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). High Temperature Materials Lab. (HTML); Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Shared Research Equipment Collaborative Research Center
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1055066
• Journal Information: Applied Surface Science, Vol. 261; ISSN 0169-4332
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English