Effect of Organic Gas Plasmas on the Adhesion of Matrix Resins to Carbon Fibers

IM7 carbon fibers were surface treated in methane, ethylene, trifluoromethane and tetrafluoromethane plasmas. The surface chemical composition of the fibers was determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The adhesion between as-received and plasma-treated carbon fibers and polyethersulfone (PES) and an epoxy resin was measured by the microbond pull-out test. XPS showed that the methane and ethylene plasmas deposited a thin layer of hydrocarbon on the fiber surface. The trifluoromethane plasma deposited a layer of fluorocarbon on the surface of the fibers. The tetrafluoromethane plasma etched the fibers and introduced a significant amount of fluorine on the surface. The microbond pull-out test results indicated that an etching plasma, such as the tetrafluoromethane plasma, improved the adhesion between carbon fibers and PES. These results are consistent with earlier work performed with ammonia plasma. The adhesion is believed to be due primarily to the differential thermal shrinkage between the fiber and the matrix. It was shown that in the case of a reactive matrix such as an epoxy resin, the fiber chemical composition plays a role in the fiber-matrix adhesion. However, this chemical effect is secondary to the cleaning effect of the surface treatment.