Curing Properties of Matrix Epoxy Resin on Surface Modified Carbon Fibers

Changes in the curing properties of matrix epoxy resin and the dynamic viscoelastic properties of the composites have been studied for the purpose of research on the properties-change mechanism of composites depending on the surface modifed reinforcing fibers. The dynamic viscoelastic properties of the composites using the surface modified carbon fibers by photo-oxygenation were measured by torsional braid analysis (TBA). The curing properties using epoxy resin added with model reactants involving carboxyl or hydroxyl group were measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. The obtained results are as follows. (1) The dynamic viscoelastic properties in curing of epoxy resin on carbon fibers were changed by photo-oxygenation. The Gr-onset temperatures, the gelation temperatures and the activation energies induced from TBA data were down. The glass transition temperatures after cure were up.These show that easy to react and well-progressed changes were induced by using the surface modified cabon fibers.(2) The hydroxyl group was superior to the carboxyl group in the promoting effect of epoxy curing reaction.