Carbon nanotubes grafting PBO fiber: A study on the interfacial properties of epoxy composites

Abstract To improve the interfacial performance of poly[p‐phenylene benzobisoxazole] (PBO) fiber and epoxy resin, a modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs‐Ecp) were used to achieve this purpose through grafting onto PBO fiber surface using a gamma ray radiation method. Experimental results indicated that the equilibrium wetting rate and equilibrium adsorption amount of the modified PBO fiber for epoxy resin and acetone were all higher than that of as received PBO fiber. The interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of single fiber composite increased from 31.4 to 77.5 MPa after modification. The fracture models of composites are changed from pure interfacial failure to combination failure of interface and resin interlayer. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers