Surface Modification of Carbon Fibres for Interface Improvement in Textile Composites

The performance of carbon fibre-reinforced composites is dependent to a great extent on the properties of fibre-matrix interface. In this research, based on the reviewed surface modification technique and inspired by the in situ growth of three-dimensional graphene coatings on nanomaterials, a new method of in situ growth of a graphene-related structure on the surface of carbon fibres is to be applied, for which it is intended to use a mixed solution of Ferrous Sulfate Heptahydrate (FeSO4· 7H2O) and D-Glucose monohydrate (C6H12O6 · H2O) to treat the carbon fibres under specific conditions to in-situ growth of a graphene-related coatings on the surface of carbon fibres. Firstly, the method was carried out by heating the mixed solution under specific temperature on the silicon wafer substrate and followed with characterisation experiments such as Raman and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Then, the mixed solution was applied on the carbon fibres and treated under the same condition. The characterisation results indicated successfully growth of the porous carbon coatings on the surface of the carbon fibres, which contained with graphene-related structures, while other characterization experiment like Transition Electron Microscopy (TEM) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) will need to be used to further characterise the porous carbon structure. The interfacial shear strength between the fibre and the porous carbon coating also need to be characterised by using the micro-bond test.