• Composites Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.82-87
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• 2021

The mechanical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy composites (CFRPs) are greatly dependent on the interfacial adhesion between the carbon fibers and the epoxy matrix. Introducing nanomaterial reinforcements into the interface is an effective approach to enhance the interfacial adhesion of CFRPs. The main purpose of this work was to introduce graphitic nanofiber (GNFs) between an epoxy matrix and carbon fibers to enhance interfacial properties. The composites were reinforced with various concentrations of GNFs. For all of the fabricated composites, the optimum GNF content was found to be 0.6 wt%, which enhanced the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and fracture toughness (KIC) by 101.9% and 33.2%, respectively, compared with those of neat composites. In particular, we observed a direct linear relationship between ILSS and KIC through surface free energy. The related reinforcing mechanisms were also analyzed and the enhancements in mechanical properties are mainly attributed to the interfacial interlocking effect. Such an effort could accelerate the conversion of composites into high performance materials and provide fundamental understanding toward realizing the theoretical limits of interfacial adhesion and mechanical properties.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.430-435
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• 2009

The effect of oxyfluorination temperature on the surface properties of carbon fibers and their reinforced epoxy composites was investigated. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy results for the oxyfluorinated carbon fibers revealed carboxyl/ester (C=O) and hydroxyl (O-H) groups at 1632 and 3450 $cm^{-1}$, respectively, and that the oxyfluorinated carbon fibers had a higher O-H peak intensity than that of the fluorinated ones. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results indicated that after oxyfluorination, graphitic carbon was the major carbon functional component on the carbon fiber surfaces, while other functional groups present were C-O, C=O, HO-C=O, and $C-F_x$. These components improved the impact properties of oxyfluorinated carbon fibers-reinforced epoxy composites by improving the interfacial adhesion between the carbon fibers and the epoxy matrix resins.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.313-319
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• 2012

In this work, the electroplating of copper was introduced on PAN-based carbon fibers for the enhancement of mechanical interfacial strength of carbon fibers-reinforced composites. The surface properties of carbon fibers were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and contact angle measurements. Its mechanical interfacial properties of the composites were studied by interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and critical stress intensity factor ($K_{IC}$). From the results, it was found that the mechanical interfacial properties of Cu-plated carbon fibers-reinforced composites (Cu-CFRPs) enhanced with increasing the Cu plating time, Cu content and COOH group up to Cu-CFRP-30. However, the mechanical interfacial properties of the Cu-CFRPs decreased dramatically in the excessively Cu-plated CFRPs sample. In conclusion, the presence of Cu particles on carbon fiber surfaces can be a key factor to determine the mechanical interfacial properties of the Cu-CFRPs, but the excessive Cu content can lead the failure due to the interfacial separation between fibers and matrices in this system.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.65-74
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• 2012

Recently, the need of developing eco-friendly materials has been required with restriction strengthening on environment and energy saving by the resource depletion worldwide. These trends are not an exception in transport industry including automobile. In addition, these materials have to fulfill not only the high quality and cheap price but also the high-performance which meet the needs of costumer and society. Among the various materials, carbon fiber-reinforced composite which is actively studying for lightweight of the automobile is one of the most suitable candidates. Indeed, the carbon fiber-reinforced composites are used as the essential materials to substitute body and other parts in automobile and the demand is increasing largely. Carbon fiber-applied automobile has improved brake, steering, durability and high fuel efficiency, leading to the energy conservation and minimizing carbon dioxide emissions. This paper focuses on the necessity of carbon fiber-reinforced composites for lightweight of automobile and its technical trends.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.20-29
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• 2001

Interfacial adhesion and nondestructive behavior of electrodeposited (ED) carbon fiber rein-forced composites were evaluated using electro-micromechanical techniques and acoustic emission (AE). The interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of the ED carbon fiber/epoxy composites was higher than that of the untreated fiber. This might be expected because of the possibility of chemical or hydrogen bonding in an electrically adsorbed polymeric interlayer. The logarithmic electrical resistivity of the untreated single-carbon fiber composite increased suddenly to infinity when fiber fracture occurred, whereas that of the ED composite increased relatively gradually to infinity. This behavior may arise from the retarded fracture time due to enhanced IFSS. In single- and ten-carbon fiber composites, the number of AE signals coming from interlayer failure of the ED carbon fiber composite was much larger than that of the untreated composite. As the number of the each first fiber fractures increased in the ten-carbon fiber composite, the electrical resistivity increased stepwise, and the slope of the logarithmic electrical resistance increased.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.148-154
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• 2010

It is necessary to develop new methods to prevent catastrophic failure of structural material in order to avoid accidents and conserve natural and energy resources. Design of intelligent materials with a self-diagnosing function to prevent fatal fracture of structural materials was achieved by smart composites consisting of carbon fiber tows or carbon powders with a small value of ultimate elongation and glass fiber tows with a large value of ultimate elongation. The changes in electrical resistance of CF-GFRP/GFRP (carbon fiber and glass fiber-reinforced plastics/glass fiber-reinforced plastics) composites increased abruptly with increasing strain, and a tremendous change was seen at the transition point where carbon fiber tows were broken. Therefore, the composites were not to monitor damage from the early stage. On the other hand, the change in electrical resistance of CP-GFRP/GFRP (carbon powder dispersed in glass fiber-reinforced plastics/glass fiber-reinforced plastics) composites increased almost linearly in proportion to strain. CP-GFRP/GFRP composites are superior to CF-GFRP/GFRP composites in terms of their capability to monitor damage by measuring change in electrical resistance from the early stage of damage. However, the former was inferior to the latter as an application because of the difficulties of mass production and high cost. A method based on monitoring damage by measuring changes in the electrical resistance of structural materials is promising for improved reliability of the material.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 1991.10a
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• pp.99-106
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• 1991

Result of an experimental study on the manufacture, the mechanical properties and waterightness of pitch-based carbon fiber reinforced fly ash.cement composites are presented in this paper. The carbon fiber reinforced fly ash.cement composites using early strength cement, silica powder and a small amount of stylene butadiene rubber latex are prepared with carbon fiber, foaming agents and mixing conditions. As a result, the mechanical and plysical properties such as compresive, tensile and flectural strengths, watertightness and cement composites are improved by using a small amount of stylene butadiene rubber latex.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.477-481
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• 2011

Composites of insulating polyethylene and carbon black are widely used in switching elements, conductive paint, and other applications due to the large gap of resistance value. This research addresses the critical exponent of dielectric breakdown strength of polymer matrix composites (PMC) made with carbon black and polyethylene below the percolation threshold (Pt) for the first time. Here, Pt means the volume fraction of carbon black of which the resistance of the PMC is transferred from its sharp decrease to gradual decrease in accordance with the increase of carbon-black-filled content. First, the Pt is determined based on the critical exponents of resistivity and relative permittivity. Although huge cohesive bodies of carbon black are formed in case of being less than the Pt, a percolation path connecting the conducting phases is not formed. The dielectric breakdown strength (Dbs) of the PMC below Pt is measured by using an impulse voltage in the range from 10 kV to 40 kV to avoid the effect of joule heating. Although the observed Dbs data seems to be well fitted to a straight line with a slope of 0.9 on a double logarithm of (Pt-$V_{CB}$) and Dbs, the least squares method gives a slope of 0.97 for the PMC. It has been found that finite carbon-black clusters play an important role in dielectric breakdown.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.617-623
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• 2015

$ZrO_2$-based composites reinforced with 6.5 vol.% of carbon foam, carbon fiber, and graphite were fabricated using spark plasma sintering, and characterized using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry. Their thermal properties were also investigated. The microstructures of the reinforced composites showed that carbon fiber fully reacted with $ZrO_2$, whereas carbon foam and graphite did not. The carbothermal reaction of carbon fiber had a negative effect on the thermal properties of the reinforced $ZrO_2$ composites because of the formation of zirconium oxycarbide. Meanwhile, the addition of carbon foam had a positive effect, increasing the thermal conductivity from 2.86 to $3.38Wm^{-1}K^{-1}$ at $1,100^{\circ}C$. These findings suggest that the homogenous distribution and chemical stability of reinforcement material affect the thermal properties of $ZrO_2$-based composites.

• Carbon letters
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.106-110
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• 2005

In this work, the effects of atmospheric oxygen plasma treatment of carbon fibers on mechanical interfacial properties of carbon fibers-reinforced epoxy matrix composites was studied. The surface properties of the carbon fibers were determined by acid/base values, Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. Also, the crack resistance properties of the composites were investigated in critical stress intensity factor ($K_{IC}$), and critical strain energy release rate mode II ($G_{IIC}$) measurements. As experimental results, FT-IR of the carbon fibers showed that the carboxyl/ester groups (C=O) at 1632 $cm^{-1}$ and hydroxyl group (O-H) at 3450 $cm^{-1}$ were observed for the plasma treated carbon fibers, and the treated carbon fibers had the higher O-H peak intensity than that of the untreated ones. The XPS results also indicated that the $O_{1S}/C_{1S}$ ratio of the carbon fiber surfaces treated by the oxygen plasma led to development of oxygen-containing functional groups. The mechanical interfacial properties of the composites, including $K_{IC}$ (critical stress intensity factor) and $G_{IIC}$ (critical strain energy release rate mode II), were also improved for the oxygen plasma-treated carbon fibersreinforced composites. These results could be explained that the oxygen plasma treatment played an important role to increase interfacial adhesions between carbon fibers and epoxy matrix resins in our composite system.