Abstract
This work addresses the challenging fibre-matrix compatibilization and interface adhesion improvement of poly(etheretherketone) (PEEK) composites reinforced with pitch-based carbon fibre. An innovative and environmentally friendly method, inspired both by supramolecular “layer-by-layer” (LBL) assembly and by the composition of adhesive proteins in mussels was designed to modify the carbon fibre surface and improve the composites transverse properties by supramolecular interactions. The results proved that few sensitive carbon surfaces can be selectively modified by stable polyelectrolyte complexes and catechol amine polymer partners dispersed in water in such a way that a sizing treatment can be applied by techniques as simple as immersion or spraying procedure. It was shown that the combination of these solutions self-organized to form thin deposits containing compatibilization and/or crystallization promoter partners, thought transcrystallinity, onto carbon surface. This approach is an innovative and environmentally-friendly method which improves fibre-matrix interface quality in terms of compatibilization, adhesion and mechanical properties.
Highlights
The advanced carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite market is dominated by materials based on thermoset polymer (TS) matrices such as epoxy, polyimides, bismaleimides and cyanate esters which have found many applications in aeronautic, space and military usages whose extreme environments demand high-performing materials
Influence of water-based surface treatments on carbon fibre, an environmentally friendly methodology consisting of water-based solutions of polyelectrolytes, of mussel-inspired adhesive promoter and thermostable thermoplastic polymer, was investigated in the field of high performance materials
Regarding the fibres treated with PDA solutions (CF-PDA), there is a decrease of the hydrophobic character from 115° to 103° as a function of the treatment duration indicating CF surface property modifications through self-assembly of the polydopamine onto the surface
Summary
The advanced carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite market is dominated by materials based on thermoset polymer (TS) matrices such as epoxy, polyimides, bismaleimides and cyanate esters which have found many applications in aeronautic, space and military usages whose extreme environments demand high-performing materials. The fibre-matrix interface chemical engineering methodology presented here is expected to improve the interface by reactive compatibilization due to adhesion promotion of the carbon fibre surface with the PEEK matrix through growth of crystallinity directly onto the fibre, which is essential to obtain high performance materials [21,22,23,24].
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