Effect of plasma modification on the mechanical properties of carbon fiber/phenolphthalein polyaryletherketone composites

A study was carried out to investigate the effect of plasma modification on the mechanical properties of carbon fiber/phenolphthalein polyaryletherketone composites. The influence of oxygen plasma treatment on the surface properties of carbon fibers was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. The results indicated that oxygen plasma treatment was capable of increasing the concentrations of the oxygen-containing groups of the carbon fiber surface as well as enhancing surface roughness. Both the chemical bonding and mechanical interlocking gave rise to an increase of the interlaminar shear strength of composite. Scanning electron microscope photographs showed that the destruction mode of composites was changed after the carbon fibers were treated by oxygen plasma. The results also indicated that the flexural properties of plasma-treated carbon fiber composites were improved. POLYM. COMPOS., 2013. (c) 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers