Surface characterization of graphitized carbon fibers by attenuated total reflection fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

A rayon-based graphitized carbon fiber has been oxidized and its surface has been studied by Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflection spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR). The spectra of the samples oxidized for different times are compared and the bands at 1720 cm −1 and 1580 cm −1, arising from the oxidative treatment, followed as a function of oxidation time. A curve fitting program has been used to separate the contribution of different functional groups to the relatively broad, composite peaks arising from the oxidation treatment. Tentative assignments are presented here. After oxidation, we detect the presence of carboxylic acid (1705 cm −1), ester (1730 cm −1), lactone (1750 cm −1), enol (1640 cm −1), and quinone structure (1583-1570 cm −1) moieties as well as a product due to the nitration of the aromatic ring (1545 cm −1). Some of the assignments of the chemical functionalities present on the fibers have also been verified by designing and performing appropriate specific derivatization reactions on these functional groups. The results of such reactions with aniline, epichlorohydrin, lithium aluminium hydride, sodium hydroxide and epoxy resin coating are reported here.