Surface Treatment of Carbon Fibers - A Review

Carbon Fibers (CFs) are widely used as reinforcement material in polymer composites. However, they are having inert surface and do not allow matrix material to make bonding with it. Surface treatment of fibers is one of the suggested methods to improve adhesion between the two. Present paper concentrates on various methods used to surface treat the CF and gives details on physical, chemical and morphological changes occur in fiber properties. These changes due to treatment lead to improved composite properties due to improved surface area on fiber surface, chemical bonding and adhesion between fiber and matrix. Mainly used surface treatment methods are acid oxidation, plasma treatment, rare earth treatment, gamma irradiation etc. comparative study of these methods help in selection of appropriate treatment method as per requirement.