Surface characterization of PVP-sized and oxygen plasma-treated carbon fibers

✍ Scribed by Oyama, Hideko T.; Wightman, J. P.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 865 KB
• Volume: 26
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0142-2421
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-9918(199801)26:1<39::aid-sia346>3.0.co;2-i

✦ Synopsis

The objectives of this work were to characterize the surface of commercial carbon Ðbers, focusing on the e †ect of polymer sizing and the e †ect of oxygen radiofrequency plasma treatment. The Ðber surface composition was determined by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and the surface topography was examined by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM).

Voltage-contrast XPS distinguished between unsized and sized carbon Ðbers, by which the former behaved as a conductive material whereas the latter behaved as a mixture of both conductive and non-conductive materials due to a contribution from a polymeric sizing material. The AFM measurements revealed that oxygen plasma treatment for 30 s roughened the unsized Ðber surfaces ; however, further treatment smoothed the overall topography. Oxygen plasma treatment for 30 s also increased the surface oxygen content.