Electrolytic surface treatment for improved adhesion between carbon fibre and polycarbonate

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Jan Henk Kamps - , SABIC (Author)
  • Luke C. Henderson - , Deakin University (Author)
  • Christina Scheffler - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Ruud van der Heijden - , SABIC (Author)
  • Frank Simon - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Teena Bonizzi - , SABIC (Author)
  • Nikhil Verghese - , SABIC (Author)

Abstract

To achieve good mechanical properties of carbon fibre-reinforced polycarbonate composites, the fibre-matrix adhesion must be dialled to an optimum level. The electrolytic surface treatment of carbon fibres during their production is one of the possible means of adapting the surface characteristics of the fibres. The production of a range of tailored fibres with varying surface treatments (adjusting the current, potential, and conductivity) was followed by contact angle, inverse gas chromatography and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements, which revealed a significant increase in polarity and hydroxyl, carboxyl, and nitrile groups on the fibre surface. Accordingly, an increase in the fibre-matrix interaction indicated by a higher interfacial shear strength was observed with the single fibre pull-out force-displacement curves. The statistical analysis identified the correlation between the process settings, fibre surface characteristics, and the performance of the fibres during single fibre pull-out testing.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number2253
JournalMaterials
Volume11
Issue number11
Publication statusPublished - 12 Nov 2018
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

Keywords

  • Carbon fibre, Composites, Interfacial adhesion, Polycarbonate, Single fibre pull out, Surface treatment