Tensile Strength of a Ti/Thermoplastic ABS Matrix CFRTP Joint Connected by Surface Activated Carbon Fiber Cross-Weave Irradiated by Electron Beam

Abstract

A new method with extremely large friction force taking advantage of the high interface area of carbon fiber (CF: 6 µm-diameter) cross weave cloth, surface activated by homogeneous low voltage electron beam irradiation (HLEBI) on the ABS half-length prior to dipping in ABS resin to enhance the ability of difficult to adhere thermoplastic with CF has been suggested for a joint (Ti/EBCF/ABS) of carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic ABS polymer and titanium (Ti). The joint was strengthened by the HLEBI over that without HLEBI. Experimental results showed ultimate tensile strength (σ_b) of the (Ti/EBCF/ABS) was 18.2 MPa: 2.1 and 9.1 and 4.2 times higher than that: without HLEBI (Ti/CF/ABS) (8.64 MPa); with glue (Ti/Glue/ABS) (2.00 MPa); and without glue (Ti/ABS) (4.32 MPa), respectively. Since the cross sectional area of CF impregnated ABS portion was about 1/12 that of the entire ABS wrapped CFRTP, the corrected σ_b (^cσ_b) value of (Ti/EBCF/CFRTP) (139 MPa) could be estimated and was 2.5 times higher than ^cσ_b of (Ti/CF/CFRTP) (56.5 MPa). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and wavelength dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (WDS) analysis showed titanium carbide TiC was not detected. A “strain hardening” model was constructed to predict deformation mechanisms in the (Ti/ABS) and (Ti/EBCF/ABS) joints. The new joint method of applying HLEBI to the carbon fiber cloth remarkably enhanced the safety level of lightweight material with high resistance to fracture for airplanes and automobiles over that without HLEBI.