Premium
Properties of carbon/graphite fibers modified by plasma polymerization
Author(s) -
Dagli Gulcin,
Sung NakHo
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
polymer composites
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.577
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1548-0569
pISSN - 0272-8397
DOI - 10.1002/pc.750100208
Subject(s) - materials science , pyrolytic carbon , acrylonitrile , graphite , ultimate tensile strength , composite material , monomer , plasma , composite number , fiber , polymerization , polymer , carbon fibers , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , pyrolysis , copolymer , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
Carbon fibers and pyrolytic graphite blocks were treated with plasma of acrylonitrile (AN) and styrene (ST) monomers, using an induction‐coupled, RF‐plasma reactor. Both substrates were stable towards plasma, leading to a deposition of thin, coherent coatings of 400Å∼1000Å thickness. Both monomers produced surfaces which are substantially more polar (γ c =54 dynes/cm for AN and 40 dynes/cm for ST) than the untreated surfaces (γ c =32 dynes/cm). ESCA and IR studies indicate that the plasma polymers contain a high concentration of oxygen (12 percent in PPAN and 17.8 percent in PPST), in the form of CO, COOH, COC, and OH groups. Also, treated fibers exhibited slightly higher tensile strengths than the untreated counterparts, suggesting that the plasma coatings effectively heal some of the surface flaws of the fiber. The abundant surface polar groups combined with the improved tensile properties of the plasma treated fibers make them attractive reinforcements for advanced composite materials.