Abstract
The Hamaker constant of unsized intermediate modulus carbon fibers was evaluated by contact angle measurement following the Fowkes theory of interfacial energetics. The effects of a surface treatment (performed by the manufacturer) and an oxygen plasma treatment (performed by us), both of oxidizing nature, proved to slightly increase the value of the Hamaker constant to a level that enhanced by about 9% the Lifshitz-van der Waals contribution to the theoretical adhesion force between the fiber and an epoxy matrix. A possible explanation of the observed increase of the Hamaker constant is the higher contribution to the overall Lifshitz-van der Waals interaction of Keesom (orientation) and Debye (induction) forces.
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