Tensile Strength and Interfacial Shear Strength of Carbon Fiber Covered with Carbon Nano Walls Formed by Micro-Wave Plasma Treatment

Abstract

Carbon Fiber Reinforce Plastic (CFRP) is one of the composite materials of carbon fiber and the plastic. For maximization of the mechanical properties of CFRP, it is necessary to improve the adhesion strength at the interface of carbon fiber and plastic. Controlling the surface morphology grown by carbon nanomaterials has been researching as one of the effective methods to improve the adhesive strength at the interface of the carbon fiber and plastic. We have investigated the growth method of Carbon Nano-Walls (CNWs) on the carbon fiber surface by using the microwave plasma device without any catalyst or expensive gas. In this study, we evaluated the tensile strength of single carbon fiber grown by CNWs on the carbon fiber surface. Additionally, we fabricated the micro droplet device and measure the Interfacial Shear Strength (IFSS) of the sample. The tensile strength of the carbon single fiber grown by CNWs on the carbon fiber surface was 93 % of that of the as-received carbon fiber. The IFSS of the carbon single fiber grown by CNWs on the carbon fiber surface was 120 % of that of the as-received carbon fiber.