Abstract
A noteworthy enhancement on the scratch resistance of flexible carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites (FCFRPCs), by a rapid deposition (a short exposure duration of 150 s) of organosilicon oxide (SiOxCy) films, with an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ), via the addition of air gases at various flow rates, has been investigated. The precursor tetramethyldisiloxane vapors are mingled with air gases, injected into an air plasma jet and sprayed onto FCFRPCs using an APPJ at room temperature (~23 °C) and atmospheric pressure for the synthesis of SiOxCy thin films onto FCFRPCs to improve the scratch resistance. A scratch test with steel wool at a 100 g load, demonstrates that the scratch resistance of FCFRPCs is obviously increased from an overwhelming presence of scratching (100%) on as-received FCFRPC to a complete lack of scratching (0%) on the SiOxCy film deposited FCFRPC for up to 92 cycles. The surface characteristics, such as surface hardness, surface morphology, surface compositions and chemical bonds of atmospheric pressure plasma-polymerized SiOxCy films, are examined to find how to progress in the scratch resistance of FCFRPCs with an APPJ by air gas addition.
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