• Composites Research
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.82-87
• /
• 2021

The mechanical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy composites (CFRPs) are greatly dependent on the interfacial adhesion between the carbon fibers and the epoxy matrix. Introducing nanomaterial reinforcements into the interface is an effective approach to enhance the interfacial adhesion of CFRPs. The main purpose of this work was to introduce graphitic nanofiber (GNFs) between an epoxy matrix and carbon fibers to enhance interfacial properties. The composites were reinforced with various concentrations of GNFs. For all of the fabricated composites, the optimum GNF content was found to be 0.6 wt%, which enhanced the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and fracture toughness (KIC) by 101.9% and 33.2%, respectively, compared with those of neat composites. In particular, we observed a direct linear relationship between ILSS and KIC through surface free energy. The related reinforcing mechanisms were also analyzed and the enhancements in mechanical properties are mainly attributed to the interfacial interlocking effect. Such an effort could accelerate the conversion of composites into high performance materials and provide fundamental understanding toward realizing the theoretical limits of interfacial adhesion and mechanical properties.

• Macromolecular Research
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.430-435
• /
• 2009

The effect of oxyfluorination temperature on the surface properties of carbon fibers and their reinforced epoxy composites was investigated. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy results for the oxyfluorinated carbon fibers revealed carboxyl/ester (C=O) and hydroxyl (O-H) groups at 1632 and 3450 $cm^{-1}$, respectively, and that the oxyfluorinated carbon fibers had a higher O-H peak intensity than that of the fluorinated ones. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results indicated that after oxyfluorination, graphitic carbon was the major carbon functional component on the carbon fiber surfaces, while other functional groups present were C-O, C=O, HO-C=O, and $C-F_x$. These components improved the impact properties of oxyfluorinated carbon fibers-reinforced epoxy composites by improving the interfacial adhesion between the carbon fibers and the epoxy matrix resins.

• Carbon letters
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.58-61
• /
• 2013

In this work, the effect of catalysts on the mechanical properties of carbon fibers-reinforced epoxy matrix composites cured by cationic latent thermal catalysts, i.e., N-benzylpyrazinium hexafluoroantimonate (BPH) was studied. Differential scanning calorimetry was executed for thermal characterization of the epoxy matrix system. Mechanical interfacial properties of the composites were studied by interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), critical stress intensity factor ($K_{IC}$), and specific fracture energy ($G_{IC}$). As a result, the conversion of neat epoxy matrix cured by BPH was higher than that of one cured by diaminodiphenyl methane (DDM). The ILSS, $K_{IC}$, $G_{IC}$, and impact strength of the composites cured by BPH were also superior to those of the composites cured by DDM. This was probably the consequence of the effect of the substituted benzene group of BPH catalyst, resulting in an increase in the cross-link density and structural stability of the composites studied.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
• /
• 2008.11b
• /
• pp.406-415
• /
• 2008

Recently, the amount of thermosetting plastic wastes have increased with the production of reinforced plastic composites and causes serious environmental problems. The epoxy composites, one of the versatile thermosetting plastics with excellent properties, cannot be melted down and remolded as what is done in the thermoplastic industry. In this research, a series of experiments that recovers carbon fibers from carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites for train body was performed. We experimentally examined various decomposition processes and compared their decomposition efficiencies and mechanical property of recovered carbon fibers. For the prevention of tangle of recovered carbon fibers, each composites specimen was fixed with a Teflon supporter and no mechanical mixing was applied. Decomposition products were analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GC-MS), and universal testing machine (UTM). Carbon fibers could be completely recovered from decomposition process using nitric acid aqueous solution, liquid-phase thermal cracking and pyrolysis. The tensile strength losses of the recovered carbon fibers were less than 4%.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
• /
• v.12 no.6
• /
• pp.1059-1066
• /
• 2009

Recently, the amount of thermosetting plastic wastes has increased with the production of reinforced plastic composites and causes serious environmental problems. The epoxy resins, one of the versatile thermosetting plastics with excellent properties, cannot be melted down and remolded as what is done in the thermoplastic industry. In this research, a series of experiments that decompose epoxy resin and recover carbon fibers from carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites applied to railway vehicles was performed. We experimentally examined various decomposition processes and compared their decomposition efficiencies and mechanical property of recovered carbon fibers. For the prevention of tangle of recovered carbon fibers, each composites specimen was fixed with a Teflon supporter and no mechanical mixing was applied. Decomposition products were analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GC-MS), and universal testing machine (UTM). Carbon fibers could be completely recovered from decomposition process using nitric acid aqueous solution, liquid-phase thermal cracking and pyrolysis. The tensile strength losses of the recovered carbon fibers were less than 4%.

• Carbon letters
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.106-110
• /
• 2005

In this work, the effects of atmospheric oxygen plasma treatment of carbon fibers on mechanical interfacial properties of carbon fibers-reinforced epoxy matrix composites was studied. The surface properties of the carbon fibers were determined by acid/base values, Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. Also, the crack resistance properties of the composites were investigated in critical stress intensity factor ($K_{IC}$), and critical strain energy release rate mode II ($G_{IIC}$) measurements. As experimental results, FT-IR of the carbon fibers showed that the carboxyl/ester groups (C=O) at 1632 $cm^{-1}$ and hydroxyl group (O-H) at 3450 $cm^{-1}$ were observed for the plasma treated carbon fibers, and the treated carbon fibers had the higher O-H peak intensity than that of the untreated ones. The XPS results also indicated that the $O_{1S}/C_{1S}$ ratio of the carbon fiber surfaces treated by the oxygen plasma led to development of oxygen-containing functional groups. The mechanical interfacial properties of the composites, including $K_{IC}$ (critical stress intensity factor) and $G_{IIC}$ (critical strain energy release rate mode II), were also improved for the oxygen plasma-treated carbon fibersreinforced composites. These results could be explained that the oxygen plasma treatment played an important role to increase interfacial adhesions between carbon fibers and epoxy matrix resins in our composite system.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.472-477
• /
• 2016

We studied the effects of anodic oxidation treatments of carbon fibers on interfacial adhesion of the carbon fibers-reinforced epoxy matrix composites with various current densities. The surface of treated carbon fibers was characterized by atomic force microscope (AFM), field emission-scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of the composites was determined by a short beam shear test. This result showed that both the roughness and oxygen group of the carbon fibers surface increased in proportion to the current density. After anodic-oxidation-treated, the ILSS also increased as a function of the current density. In addition, the proportional relationship between ILSS and phenolic hydroxyl group was confirmed. The ILSS of the CF-2.0 sample increased by 4% compared to that of the CF-AS sample, because the anodic oxidation treatment increased the oxygen group and roughness on the carbon fibers surface, which leading to the improvement of the interfacial adhesion of the carbon fibers-reinforced epoxy matrix composites. Among these, the phenolic hydroxyl group which has the proportional relationship with ILSS is found to be the most important factor for improving the interfacial adhesion of the carbon fibers-reinforced epoxy matrix composites.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
• /
• 2003.04a
• /
• pp.188-191
• /
• 2003

In this wort. the effect of anodic oxidation on surface characteristics of high strength PAN-based carbon fibers is investigated in terms of surface and mechanical interfacial properties of the composites. As a result, the acidity of carbon fiber surfaces is increased, due to the development of oxygen functional groups in the presence of anodic oxidation. Also. it is found that the critical stress intensity factor ($K_{IC}$) is improved in the oxidized fibers-reinforced composites. which can be attributed to the good wettability between fibers and epoxy resin matrix.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.186-190
• /
• 2015

$TiO_2$ nanoparticles can be used to improve the performance of carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy resin composites. In this study, the effect of the size of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles on the mechanical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy resin composites was investigated. The size of the $TiO_2$ nanoparticles was easily controlled using heat treatment. The size of the $TiO_2$ nanoparticles for this study were20nm, 100nm, and 200nm. Three types of carbon fibers with different diameters were also used in this study. The carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy resin composites with 20-nm $TiO_2$ powder showed the highest tensile strength compared to the other types of CFRP, regardless of the fiber maker or fiber diameter. The size of the $TiO_2$ powder and the diameter of the carbon fiber strongly affected the interfacial properties of all kinds of CFRP in this study.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.315-321
• /
• 2013

In this work, pitch-carbonized glass fibers were prepared for reinforcement of composites. The influence of acid functionalization of the fibers on the morphological, mechanical, and thermal properties of fiber-reinforced epoxy matrix composites was investigated. The acid functionalization of the fibers led to 10 and 150% increases in the mechanical and thermal properties, respectively, as compared to carbon fiber-reinforced composites. This can be attributed to the superior orientation of fiber structures and good interfacial interactions between fillers and epoxy matrix, resulting in enhanced degree of dispersion and formation of thermally conductive paths in the functionalized composites.