Mechanical, surface and interfacial characterisation of pitch and PAN-based carbon fibres

The mechanical and surface characteristics of pitch and PAN-based carbon fibres were studied by tensile testing, XPS, SEM analysis and wetting measurements. The pitch-based fibres had two different geometries, with circular and ellipsoidal (ribbon-shaped) cross sections. Plasma oxidation was used to treat the surface of the fibres. The interfacial characteristics of untreated and treated fibres were measured by fragmentation tests of single filament composites. The effect of the surface treatment on the mechanical, surface and interfacial properties of the fibres was determined and correlated. It was shown that a relationship exists between the ability of the surface to transfer loads and its oxygen content. Finally, the influence of the non-axisymmetry on the interfacial parameters obtained in the fragmentation tests was assessed.