Research progress on the surface modification of carbon fiber

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Surface Chemistry

Background:

• Carbon fiber (CF) offers exceptional strength, modulus, and thermal stability, leading to widespread applications.
• Poor surface wettability of CF, caused by a lack of functional groups and defects, hinders effective fiber-matrix adhesion in composites.
• Improving CF surface properties is crucial for advancing composite material performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review existing literature on carbon fiber surface modification techniques.
• To categorize and analyze different methods, including dry, wet, and nanomodification approaches.
• To discuss the current application status and future potential of modified carbon fibers.

Main Methods:

• Summarizing various surface modification strategies for carbon fibers.
• Classifying methods into dry modification, wet modification, and nanomodification.
• Analyzing the effectiveness and applicability of each modification technique.

Main Results:

• Various surface modification methods effectively enhance carbon fiber wettability and interfacial properties.
• Dry, wet, and nanomodification techniques offer distinct advantages for tailoring CF surface chemistry and topography.
• Understanding these modifications is key to optimizing composite performance.

Conclusions:

• Surface modification is essential for overcoming the limitations of carbon fiber wettability.
• Continued research into advanced modification techniques will drive the development of high-performance carbon fiber composites.
• Modified carbon fibers are poised to play a significant role in future technological advancements across diverse fields.