Effect of Two-Step Surface Treatment on the Mechanical Properties of Hollow Integrated Core Sandwich Composites with GF/CF Hybrid Face Sheets

Abstract

In this study, the effect of a two-step surface treatment on the mechanical properties of hollow integrated core sandwich composites with glass fiber/carbon fiber (GF/CF) hybrid face sheets were investigated. The presence of functional groups on the surface during the two-step treatment was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). The results of tensile strength on single filaments indicated that no extra loss of fiber strength was observed after the two-step surface treatment for both the glass and carbon fibers. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) data confirmed the positive effect of the two-step surface treatment on the hollow integrated core sandwich fabric with GF/CF hybrid face sheets. It was found that the hollow integrated core sandwich composites with GF/CF hybrid face sheets showed significant improvements in tensile strength, bending strength and compression strength after the two-step surface treatment, which indicated the two-step surface treatment was efficient.