Codeposition of Gallic Acid and Polyethylene Imine on Carbon Fiber Surfaces to Enhance Interfacial Properties of Epoxy Composites

• Published in: Polymer science. Series B 2023, Vol.65 (5), p.639-647
• Main Authors: Lin Liu, Xu, Xin, Wu, Jing, Zhang, Lin, Li, Jialiang, Zeng, Xiaoyu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; Carbon fiber reinforced plastics; Carbon fibers; Carbon-epoxy composites; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Codeposition; Composites; Epoxy matrix composites; Epoxy resins; Fiber composites; Fiber reinforced polymers; Gallic acid; Imines; Interfacial properties; Interfacial shear strength; Mechanical tests; Modulus of rupture in bending; Photoelectrons; Polyethylene; Polyethylenes; Polymer Sciences; Resin matrix composites; Shear strength; Wettability
• ISSN: 1560-0904; 1555-6123
• DOI: 10.1134/S1560090423701270

Inspired by mussel heuristic chemistry, a novel method for improving surface wettability and adhesion of carbon fibers with epoxy resins was proposed by codepositing gallic acid and polyethylene imine on the carbon fiber surfaces in a convenient operation. The results of scanning electron microscopy, infrared, Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectra revealed that gallic acid and polyethylene imine could undergo Michael addition or Schiff base reaction and codeposit on the carbon fiber surfaces successfully. The gallic acid-polyethylene imine codeposited carbon fibers were used to fabricate epoxy matrix composites. The results of mechanical tests showed that interlaminar shear strength, flexural modulus and strength of the gallic acid-polyethylene imine codeposited carbon fiber composite were increased by 27, 38, and 27% respectively, compared with those of the untreated carbon fiber composite. The conclusion can be drawn that the gallic acid-polyethylene imine codeposition is an effective method for improving interfacial properties of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin matrix composites.