Effect of polypyrrole deposition of carbon fiber on the thermal expansion of carbon fiber-epoxy composites

Polypyrrole (PPy) was deposited onto carbon fibers via continuous electrochemical deposition (ECD). Composites of PPy-deposited carbon fiber and epoxy were prepared. The thermal expansion coefficients of these materials were determined using either a thermal mechanical analyzer or an imbeded strain gauge. The results show that PPy has a negative thermal expansion coefficient while carbon fiber and epoxy have positive thermal expansion coefficients. The resulting composite has a smaller thermal expansion coefficient, higher interlaminar shear stress and a smaller critical fiber length than the composite using untreated carbon fiber. This suggests that the deposition of PPy can effect an improvement in the fiber-matrix interfacial bonding of the composite.