Plasma treatment of carbon fibers: Non-equilibrium dynamic adsorption and its effect on the mechanical properties of RTM fabricated composites

▶ Fluorescent label was used to study the change of curing agent content in the epoxy resin at the inlet and outlet of the RTM mould, which have been scarcely reported before. ▶ The effect of oxygen plasma treatment on the non-equilibrium dynamic adsorption of the carbon fabric reinforcements in RTM process was studied. ▶ Concentration changes of some oxygen containing polar groups and no oxygen containing groups on the carbon fiber surface induced by the oxygen plasma treatment may affect its adsorption ability to the resin and curing agent. ▶ An optimum plasma treatment condition existed for the mechanical properties of RTM fabricated composites.