The TPB Properties of Plasma-Treated Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polystyrene Composites

Dielectric barrier discharges (DBD) in ambient air are used on carbon fiber to improve the fiber surface activity. Carbon fibers with length of 75 mu m are placed into the plasma configuration. The interaction between modified carbon fibers and polystyrene was studied by the three-point bending (TPB) test. The chemical and physical changes induced by the treatments on carbon fiber surface are examined using contact angle measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Contact angles of the plasma-treated carbon fiber and XPS results reveal that the carbon fibers modified with the DBD at an atmospheric pressure show a significant increase in oxygen and nitrogen concentration. These results demonstrate that the surfaces of the carbon fiber are more active, hydrophilic after plasma treatments using a DBD operating in ambient air.