Comparison of short carbon fibre surface treatments on epoxy composites - II. Enhancement of the wear resistance

In this study, pitch-based short carbon fibres were treated by both an air oxidation and a cryogenic treatment, thereafter these fibres were incorporated into epoxy matrix for wear investigations. It was found that under an appropriate air oxidative condition, the wear resistance of carbon fibre reinforced epoxy was significantly improved at low contact pressure, whereas that was reduced at high pressures which may due to the damage of fibre mechanical properties after oxidation. On the contrary, carbon fibres preformed better at high sliding pressure after cryogenic treatment. Correlated wear mechanisms were discussed. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.