The use of a single-fibre pull-out test to investigate the influence of acidic and basic surface groups on carbon fibres on the adhesion to poly(phenylene sulfide) and matrix-morphology-dependent fracture behaviour

The single-fibre pull-out test has been used to determine the influence of acidic and basic surface groups (produced by heat treatment) on high-modulus and high-strength carbon fibres on the interfacial shear strength to poly(phenylene sulfide). Furthermore, the matrix-morphology-dependent fracture behaviour of unmodified and modified carbon-fibre/PPS interfaces has been investigated. Ductile and brittle fracture behaviour has been observed depending on the nature of the interface (amorphous or crystalline). It is found from the experimental results that there is no influence of the fibre surface modification and thus of the type of surface oxides (acidic or basic) on the fracture behaviour.