Improvement of interfacial properties in bismaleimide composites using functionalized graphene oxide grafted carbon fiber

A hierarchical reinforcement, which was used to improve the interfacial properties of bismaleimide (BMI) composites, was prepared by grafting functionalized graphene oxide (GO) onto a carbon fiber surface. The GO and carbon fibers were first functionalized separately to create interactional functional groups on their surfaces. The grafting process was then realized by an amidation reaction of the amine and acyl chloride function groups formed on GO and carbon fibers, respectively. The surface groups of functionalized GO and carbon fibers were identified by an X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The resulting reinforcement was further characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and dynamic contact angle analysis. Experimental results showed that the functionalized GO were successfully grafted onto the carbon fibers surfaces and significantly increased the surface energy of carbon fibers. The study also indicated that the prepared hierarchical reinforcement could significantly improve the interfacial adhesion of resulting BMI composite. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 58:886–893, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers