Abstract
Fibre-reinforced polymer composites are gaining increasing attention in various applications for constructing mechanical structures such as wind turbine blades. The interface between fibres and a polymer matrix should be optimally designed to promote the mechanical performance of the composites. Plasma treatment shows obvious advantages over conventional approaches, since it has the characteristic of environmental friendliness, low-cost, and easy operation. A plasma can be favourably generated at atmospheric pressure. One of the most commonly used atmospheric pressure plasmas is a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD). In the present work, an air-to-air DBD is introduced. The DBD was generated in a gas mixture of helium and fluorocarbon between a rod-shaped water-cooled powered electrode covered with alumina and a one-dimensionally movable ground aluminium plate. Polyethylene terephthalate films were used as model specimens, and attached on the aluminium plate for the surface modification. The results indicate that specimen surfaces can be oxidized or fluorinated, depending on the conditions, and that the gap between the electrodes and gas flowrates significantly affect the treatment effect.
Highlights
Glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites are widely used due to high strength-to-weight ratios, mechanical and corrosion resistance properties [1]
The dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) was generated in a gas mixture of helium and fluorocarbon between a rod-shaped water-cooled powered electrode covered with alumina and a one-dimensionally movable ground aluminium plate
Polyethylene terephthalate films were used as model specimens, and attached on the aluminium plate for the surface modification
Summary
Glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites are widely used due to high strength-to-weight ratios, mechanical and corrosion resistance properties [1]. Examples of applications include sporting equipment, vehicles, architectures, and wind turbine blades. It is indicated experimentally [2] and theoretically [3] that fracture toughness of GFRPs can be improved not by strong interactions at the interfaces between fibres and polymer matrices, but by optimally designed interfaces. Creation of multiple cracks in GFRPs due to locally distributed domains with low adhesion can improve overall fracture toughness of GFRPs. at the initial stage of polymer composite manufacturing, surface treatment of fibres is important for controlling the interfacial properties of GFRPs. at the initial stage of polymer composite manufacturing, surface treatment of fibres is important for controlling the interfacial properties of GFRPs Motivated by this idea, fluorination of sized glass fibres is studied aiming at reducing initial interaction of glass fibre surfaces with polymer matrices [4,5]. Among the reported surface treatment techniques, atmospheric pressure plasma treatment is attractive due to its high treatment efficiency, environmental friendliness
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