Synergetic improvement of mechanical properties and surface activities in γ-irradiated carbon fibers revealed by radial positioning spectroscopy and mechanical model

• Published in: Analytical methods Vol. 10; no. 5; pp. 496 - 503
• Main Authors: Shan, Mingjing, Wang, Haibo, Xu, Zhiwei, Li, Nan, Chen, Cheng, Shi, Jie, Liu, Liangsen, Kuang, Liyun, Ma, Meijun, Zhang, Ce
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Royal Society of Chemistry 07.02.2018
• Subjects: Argon; Carbon; Carbon fiber reinforced plastics; Carbon fibers; Crosslinking; Fibers; Interfacial shear strength; Mechanical properties; Photoelectron spectroscopy; Positioning devices (machinery); Spectroscopy; Spectrum analysis; Surface activity; Tensile strength
• ISSN: 1759-9660; 1759-9679
• DOI: 10.1039/C7AY02852K

The relationship between microstructures, surface activities, and mechanical properties of γ-irradiated carbon fibers has been evaluated quantitatively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy combined with argon ion sputtering indicated that the outer-surface part (∼10 nm) was functionalized and disordered by the grafting reaction; this led to an increase in the surface activity and loss of mechanical properties of γ-irradiated carbon fibers. The degree of covalent cross-linking between subsurface layers of graphene (∼1.5 μm) showed a more notable increase than that of the core (∼4 μm); this indicated that the sub-surface was mainly responsible for improvement in the tensile strength of γ-irradiated carbon fibers. Increases of 15.5% (argon) and 13.3% (epoxy chloropropane) in tensile strength were achieved. Moreover, interfacial shear strength of a single fiber in matrix increased by 19.15% (argon) and 75.03% (epoxy chloropropane). Therefore, this spatially resolved study paved a meaningful way to understand the relationship among microstructures, surface activities, and mechanical properties of γ-irradiated carbon fibers.