| Abstract: | The mechanical and dynamic properties of oxidized carbon fibre and butadiene–styrene thermoplastic elastomer (SBS) composites were studied as a function of the level of fibre oxidation and in comparison with the properties of composites reinforced with untreated commercial carbon fibre. As a general rule, fibre oxidation gives rise to materials with improved mechanical properties—greater tensile and tear strengths. The improvements accomplished depend on the degree of fibre oxidation. The effects of long exposure times to oxidizing agents were tested on the experimental samples, i.e. increase in the number of functional surface groups and loss in mechanical strength due to a decrease in the L/d ratio, properties which act in opposite directions in the composite. Storage modulus retention with increasing strain amplitude is directly proportional to the number of functional groups incorporated into the fibre surface, whereas at low strain amplitude it is proportional to fibre strength, measured in terms of the L/d ratio after processing. It is suggested that improved adhesion at the matrix–fibre interface is obtained through the functional groups of the oxidized fibre. As a consequence of fibre–matrix interface and at any frequency, the damping peak temperature is shifted towards higher ranges and at the same time the apparent activation energy of the relaxation process is observed to increase. |
