Anodic oxidation of pitch-precursor carbon fibres in ammonium sulphate solutions: the effect of fibre surface treatment on composite mechanical properties

Abstract

Tonen HM pitch-based carbon fibres were electrochemically treated in solutions of ammonium sulphate using a pilot plant surface treatment apparatus. Embedded single fibre and short beam shear specimens prepared with these treated fibres exhibited strengths over 300% greater than those made with untreated fibres. The surface treatment did not, however, result in improvements in the longitudinal compressive strength. This suggests that the compressive strength is not limited by the shear strength of the fibre/matrix interface.