TY - JOUR A1 - Bismarck, A. A1 - Lee, A.F. A1 - Sarac, A.S. A1 - Schulz, Eckhard A1 - Wilson, K. T1 - Electrocoating of carbon fibres: A route for interface control in carbon fibre reinforced poly methylmethacrylate? JF - Composites science and technology N2 - A simple method of creating defined PMMA and poly (MMA-co-Cz) electrocoatings on carbon fibres is described. The electrodeposition of poly methylmethacrylate (PMMA) onto unsized, unmodified carbon fibres was performed by simple constant current electrolyses of methylmethacrylate (MMA) monomer in dimethylformamide (DMF) solutions and the ‘pure’ liquid monomer using sodium nitrate and lithium perchlorate as supporting electrolytes. The presence of polymeric coatings successfully attached to the carbon fibres was verified by scanning electron microscopy and photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Performing the electrolysis in dilute MMA in DMF solutions ([MMA] < 5 M) results in the deposition of powder-like polymer on the carbon fibre electrodes. Increasing the MMA concentration in the DMF solution results in a homogeneous PMMA coating of the carbon fibres. The degree of grafting or coating increases with increasing MMA concentration, except when pure MMA is used without solvent. The adhesive strength between the electrocoated carbon fibres and a PMMA matrix was determined using the single fibre pull-out test. It was found that the interfacial fracture behaviour of all carbon fibre/PMMA model composites is rather brittle. The adhesion strength between the unmodified carbon fibres and the PMMA matrix was equal to the cohesive strength of the polymer matrix itself. Nevertheless, the electrodeposition of thin and homogeneous PMMA coatings resulted in much improved adhesion strengths. KW - Carbon fibres KW - Coating KW - Interfacial strength KW - Fibre - matrix bond KW - Photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) PY - 2005 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2005.01.006 SN - 0266-3538 VL - 65 IS - 10 SP - 1564 EP - 1573 PB - Elsevier CY - Barking AN - OPUS4-7540 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bismarck, A. A1 - Pfaffernoschke, M. A1 - Springer, J. A1 - Schulz, Eckhard T1 - Polystyrene-grafted Carbon Fibers: Surface Properties and Adhesion to Polystyrene JF - Journal of thermoplastic composite materials N2 - It is highly desirable to improve attractive interactions between carbon fibers and unreactive thermoplastic matrices to the possible maximum. This could be achieved by a simple grafting process to create a covalently bonded interface or interlayer, which should result in cohesive interactions between the polymer-grafted fibers and the same matrix material, leading to a better adhesion strength in the obtained composite material. Here, we are describing the grafting of styrene onto unmodified and unsized carbon fibers via free-radical bulk polymerization in the presence of fibers. After grafting, the surface properties of the carbon fiber approach those of pure polystyrene which was proven by contact angle and zeta ({zeta}) potential measurements. As indicated by the water contact angle, the carbon fiber surface becomes more hydrophobic. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provides evidence of grafted polymer. This simple procedure results in a continuous polystyrene coating. The fiber diameter increases significantly after polymer grafting. The adhesion and fracture behavior between the original and polystyrene-grafted carbon fibers to a polystyrene (VESTYRON®) matrix was characterized using the single-fiber pull-out test. There is a considerable increase in the measurable adhesion, i.e., the interfacial shear strength IFSS, by almost 300% between the grafted fibers and polystyrene as compared to untreated original fibers. Two planes of interfacial failure could be distinguished; first in the fiber coating interface leading to lower interfacial shear strength and second in the PS-matrix-PS-coating interphase resulting in a higher interfacial shear strength. In addition to the improved adhesion, there are also clear differences in the pull-out behavior between the nongrafted and grafted fibers. After the initial debonding process corresponding to the maximal pull-out force is completed, the pull-out force is increasing again. PY - 2005 DO - https://doi.org/10.1177/0892705705049559 SN - 0892-7057 SN - 1530-7980 VL - 18 IS - 4 SP - 307 EP - 331 PB - Sage Publ. CY - London AN - OPUS4-11599 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -