• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.293-301
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• 2001

Electrically conductive carbon fiber/high density polyethylene (CF/HDPE) composite films were fabricated by new method, so called electron-ion technology (EIT) and the effects of CF epoxy sizing on the volumetric resistivity. tensile strength and interphase properties of the films were investigated. While epoxy sizing increased conductivity of composite films resulting from enhanced tunneling effect it reduced interphase adhesion between CF and HDPE because polar epoxy sizing and nonpolar HDPE are incompatible. Consequently epoxy sized CF(CF(S)) caused significant reduction in the volumetric resisitivity and tensile strength of composite films when compared with unsized CF(CF(U)). Epoxy sizing reduced nucleating efficiency of CF(S), therefore CF(S)/HDPE composite films showed nonuniform transcrystalline layer when compared with CF(U)/HDPE composite films.

• Composites Research
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.299-303
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• 2018

In order to improve the interfacial bonding force and reaction polymerization degree of the carbon fiber reinforced nylon 6 composite material, the surface of the existing epoxy-sizing carbon fiber was desized to remove the epoxy and treated with urethane, nylon and phenoxy sizing agent, was observed. The interfacial bond strength of the resized carbon fiber was confirmed by IFSS (Interfacial Shear Strength) and the fracture surface was observed by scanning electron microscope. The results showed that the interfacial bonding strength of the carbon fiber treated with nylon and phenoxy sizing agents was higher than that of urethane - based sizing. It has been found that the urethane - type resizing carbon fiber has lower interfacial bonding strength than the conventional epoxy - sizing carbon fiber. This result shows that the interfacial bonding between carbon fiber and nylon 6 is improved by removing low activity and smoothness of existing carbon fiber.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.326-332
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• 2000

The effects of sizing agent on the final mechanical properties of the glass fiber/unsaturated polyester composites were investigated by contact angle measurements at room temperature. In this work, glass fibers were coated by poly(vinyl alcohol), polyester, and epoxy type sizing agent and each property was compared. Contact angles of the sized glass fiber were measured by the wicking method based on Washburn equation using deionized water and diiodomethane as testing liquids. As an experimental result, the surface free energy calculated from contact angle showed the highest value in case of the glass fiber coated by epoxy sizing agent. From measurements of interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and fracture toughness ( $K_{IC}$ ) of the composites, it was found that the sizing treatment on fibers could improve the fiber/matrix interfacial adhesion, resulting in growing the final mechanical properties. This was due to the enhanced surface free energy of glass fibers in a composite system.

• Composites Research
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.379-384
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• 2018

This paper aims to study flow characteristics of epoxy resin w.r.t. the sizing agents treated on the carbon fibers which have the same surface morphologies before sizing treatment. Dynamic contact angle (DCA) was measured to evaluate wettability of a single carbon fiber. Wicking test and Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) were performed to find relation between DCA measurement results and impregnation characteristics. In addition, surface properties of the carbon fibers such as surface free energy and chemical compositions were measured and interfacial shear strength (IFSS) between the carbon fiber and the resin were experimentally characterized by using micro-droplet tests. According to these experimental results, the sizing agent for carbon fibers should have appropriate level of surface free energy and good chemical compatibility with the resin to reconcile resin flow characteristics and interfacial strength.

• Composites Research
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.305-310
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• 2021

Mechanical properties of fiber reinforced composites were affected to fiber volume fractions (FVF) and interfacial property by sizing agent conditions. An optimum interface can relieve stress concentration by transferring the mechanical stress from the matrix resin to the reinforcements effectively, and thus can result in the performance of the composites. The interfacial properties and wettability between the epoxy resin and glass fiber (GF) were evaluated for different sizing agent conditions and FVFs. The surface energies of epoxy resin and different sizing agent treated GFs were calculated using dynamic and static contact angle measurements. The work of adhesion, W_a was calculated by using surface energies of epoxy matrix and GFs. The wettability was evaluated via the GF tow capillary test. The interfacial shear strength (IFSS) was evaluated by microdroplet pull-out test. Finally, the optimized GFRP manufacturing conditions could be obtained by using wettability and interfacial property.

• Composites Research
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.365-370
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• 2017

Mechanical properties of carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites (CFRTPs) are affected by various factors. One of the them are poor compatibility of the epoxy sizing layer on the carbon fiber surface with thermoplastic matrix, which causes the inferior interfacial strength between fibers and matrix. In addition, the high molten-viscosity of thermoplastics attributes to the poor impregnation state. Consequently, many voids in the composite materials were generated, which leads to poor mechanical properties of the thermoplastic composites. In this study, the epoxy sizing on the carbon fiber surface was removed and the polyamide 6,6 solution was coated on the de-sized carbon fiber surface to improve the impregnation state and mechanical properties. Interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of CFRPTs was estimated by implementing short beam shear tests. In addition, flexural strength was measured and the impregnation state of the composites was evaluated by calculating void content.

• Carbon letters
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• v.19
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• pp.47-56
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• 2016

In this study, the fracture behavior of a thermoplastic-modified epoxy resin reinforced with continuous carbon fibers for two levels of fiber-matrix adhesion was performed. A carbon fiber with commercial sizing was used and also treated with a known silane, (3-glycidoxy propyl trimethoxysilane) coupling agent. Toughness was determined using the double cantilever test, together with surface analysis after failure using scanning electron microscope. The presence of polysulfone particles improved the fracture behavior of the composite, but fiber-matrix adhesion seemed to play a very important role in the performance of the composite material. There appeared to be a synergy between the matrix modifier and the fiber-matrix adhesion coupling agent.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.5-9
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• 2002

This paper presents a method and procedure for stress analysis and sizing in development of structures of a large composite wind turbine blade. Structural requirement of IEC standard was reviewed to set up appropriate analysis method and procedure. Several structural layouts were examined in a viewpoint of a large scale wind turbine blade. For the critical load cases, stress analysis were performed using finite element method. Stacking sequence and thickness of a laminate for each part and location were determined considering stress levels and producibility. Nonlinear geometric analysis was performed to check stability problem due to local buckling of a skin structures.

• Carbon letters
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• v.19
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• pp.1-11
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• 2016

In efforts to characterize and understand the properties and processing of phenylethynyl-terminated imide (LaRC PETI-5, simply referred to as PETI-5) oligomers and polymers as a high-temperature sizing material for carbon fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites, PETI-5 imidization and thermal curing behaviors have been extensively investigated based on the phenylethynyl end-group reaction. These studies are reviewed here. In addition, the use of PETI-5 to enhance interfacial adhesion between carbon fibers and a bismaleimide (BMI) matrix, as well as the dynamic mechanical properties of carbon/BMI composites, are discussed. Reports on the thermal expansion behavior of intercalated graphite flake, and the effects of exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets (xGnP) on the properties of PETI-5 matrix composites are also reviewed. The dynamic mechanical and thermal properties and the electrical resistivity of xGnP/PETI-5 composites are characterized. The effect of liquid rubber amine-terminated poly(butadiene-co-acrylonitrile) (ATBN)-coated xGnP particles incorporated into epoxy resin on the toughness of xGnP/epoxy composites is examined in terms of its impact on Izod strength. This paper provides an extensive overview from fundamental studies on PETI-5 and xGnP, as well as applied studies on relevant composite materials.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.122-125
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• 2001

The objective of this research is to develop hybridized yarns for thermoplastic composites, and to examine tile effect of cooling rate on mechanical properties of the composites. The co-braided yarn utilizing carbon fibers as reinforcements and Nylon 66 fibers as matrix materials has been fabricated. Thermoplastic composites have been manufactured by the hot-press forming process. For the processing conditions, cooling rates of $-2.5^{\circ}C$/min and $-60^{\circ}C$/min have been considered. Three-point bending test and losipescu shear test were performed to investigate the effect of the cooling rate and the surface treatment of carbon fibers. SEM photographs were used to investigate the fracture surfaces of the tested samples. The cooling rate of $-60^{\circ}C$/min resulted in the higher strength and elastic modulus for bending and shear tests. The composites of the epoxy-sized carbon fibers showed the lowest strength due to the degradation of the sizing material during the thermoforming process.