Influence of Oxygen Plasma Treatment on Interfacial Strength of AFRP
Shigeaki YOTSU, Takashi MATSUOKA and Kazuhiko SAKAGUCHI
Abstract:An investigation was performed on the interfacial contorol of aramid/epoxy composite system using the oxygen plasma treated aramid fiber. In particular, it was shown that the oxygen plasma treatment was effective for the improvement on the interfacial adhesion between the aramid fiber and the epoxy resin from the results of a single fiber pull-out test. It was clarified from a single fiber tensile test that the tensile strength of aramid fiber decreased after the oxygen plasma treatment. The formation of functional groups such as the carboxyl groups, carbonyl groups and hydroxyl groups was found by XPS analysis on the surface of aramid fiber treated by oxygen plasma. Then, the interfacial shear strength obtained from a single fiber pull-out test was increased by oxygen plasma treatment and that maximum value was found at the treatment time 10 min. under the plasma treatment condition ; the treatment pressure 100Pa and the treatment power 70W. It became clear from DCB test that the energy release rate increased at the treatment time 10min. As same as the interfacial shear strength and the fiber bridging was observed for this sample. Key Words:Aramid fiber, Oxygen plasma treatment, Single fiber tensile strength, Interfacial shear strength, XPS analysis