Open AccessEffect of fiber surface treatment on the incorporation of carbon nanotubes and on the micromechanical properties of a single-carbon fiber-epoxy matrix composite
Author(s) -
Mario Fernando Muñoz-Vélez,
Alex Valadez-González,
Pedro J. HerreraFranco
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
express polymer letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.695
H-Index - 72
ISSN - 1788-618X
DOI - 10.3144/expresspolymlett.2017.68
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , carbon nanotube , composite number , epoxy , fiber , matrix (chemical analysis) , carbon fibers
Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) previously treated with a cationic polymer were incorporated on the surface of carbon fibers modified by three different chemical treatments, namely, oxidation, oxidation-silanization and oxidation-pre-impregnation. Prior to the incorporation of the MWCNTs, the physical surface properties of the fibers were studied by contact angle and the chemical surface properties by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of the different systems carbon fiber-MWCNTs-matrix was evaluated using the single-fiber fragmentation test (SFFT) and it was observed that the IFSS of the oxidized-pre-impregnated fibers, was considerably higher than that observed for the other fiber-matrix systems. This was attributed to enhanced interfacial interactions because the fiber surface treatments improved the wettability of the carbon fiber and the MWCNTs, which resulted in a better fiber-matrix mechanical interlocking and to the formation of covalent bonds between the different phases of the composite