Anodization of carbon fibers on interfacial mechanical properties of epoxy matrix composites

The influence of anodic oxidation on the mechanical interfacial properties of carbon-fiber-reinforced epoxy resin composites was investigated. The surface properties of the anodized carbon fibers were studied through the measurement of contact angles and through SEM, XPS, and FT-IR analyses. The mechanical interfacial properties of the composites were studied through measurements of interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), critical stress intensity factor (K(IC)), and critical strain energy release rate (G(IC)). It was shown that the surface functional groups containing oxygen on the anodized carbon fibers exert great effects on the surface energetics of fibers and the mechanical interfacial properties, e.g., ILSS, of the resulting composites. Contact angle measurements based on the wicking rate of a test liquid showed that anodic oxidation lead to an increase in the surface free energy of the carbon fibers, mainly in its specific (or polar) component. In terms of surface energetics, it was found that wetting played an important role in increasing the degree of adhesion at interfaces between the fibers and the resin matrices of the composites.