Interfacial shear strength of surface functionalized and functionalized CNT coated carbon fiber: A single fiber fragmentation study

The compatibility among nonpolar thermoplastics like polypropylene (PP) and carbon fibers (CF) having traditional sizing or coating is challenging. In this study, facile and effective surface functionalization of CF and its subsequent coating with functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were carried out to obtain improved interfacial shear strength (IFSS) which was validated by the single fiber fragmentation test (SFFT). Functional groups, -COOH, -OH, and -NH2, were separately grafted on the CF surface using different chemical routes. Additionally, ultrasonic assisted electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique was used to coat -COOH, -OH, and -NH2 functionalized CNTs on the sized and surface functionalized CFs. Attenuated total reflection-infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images confirmed the successful surface functionalization and coating on CF. Neat PP and a blend of PP and maleic anhydride-grafted-styrene ethylene butylene styrene (MA-g-SEBS) were used as two different base polymer matrixes in preparing a total of 26 different SFFT samples. Silane functionalized CF coated with amine functionalized CNTs using ultrasonic assisted EPD process showed IFSS of & SIM;29 MPa which was an impressive & SIM;758% higher than pristine CF and highest among all the surface modified CFs. Interestingly, this translated into useful increase of & SIM;13% in single fiber tensile strength of functionalized and treated CF over and above that of as received CF.