Synthesis of multiscale reinforcement fabric by electrophoretic deposition of amine-functionalized carbon nanofibers onto carbon fiber layers

Deposition of amine-functionalized carbon nanofibers (CNFs) on the surface of carbon fibers (CFs) using water as dispersive medium was achieved by a two-stage scalable electrophoretic process. The resulting hybrid CNF–CF layers showed uniform distribution and microfiber wrapping of amidized-CNFs not seen when depositing oxidized-CNFs on the same substrate. Such layers provide potential for improving the mechanical properties of advanced composites by covalent bonding between amine and epoxide groups of the CNFs and matrix, respectively.