Surface-oxidized carbon fibers: IV. Interaction with high-temperature thermoplastics Original Research Article

Unidirectional composites were fabricated with fibers of different modulus (HT, IM, HM) and different surface treatments using various thermoplastics as the matrix. Mechanical properties were determined and correlated with the properties of the fibers. The interlaminar shear strength is shown to be controlled by the work of the adhesion as determined from contact angle measurements. Strong supporting evidence for chemical bond formation, postulated previously, could be deduced from model experiments on the interaction between surface-oxidized carbons (fibers and glass-like carbon) and high-temperature thermoplastics.