Improving carbon fiber adhesion to polyimide with atmospheric pressure plasma treatment

► Plasma treatment effect on carbon fiber strength distribution is studied. ► Fiber strength increases at short gage lengths and decreases at large gage lengths. ► Prolonged exposure to plasma eliminates small defects but worsens large defects. ► Plasma treatment effect on carbon fiber/polyimide IFSS is studied using SFC technique. ► IFSS increased 21% after plasma treatment.