Carbon fibre surface modification by plasma for enhanced polymeric composite performance: A review

Energetic species in plasma have been used for four decades to functionalise or coat the hydrophobic and inert carbon fibre (CF) surface with the aim to enhance interface performance with polymeric matrices. To encourage a data-driven polymeric composite manufacturing process, this review communicates introductory plasma science, treatment methods, reaction mechanisms, fibre properties and composite performance. The digest on fibre properties after plasma modification informs the mechanical property enhancement of micro- and macro-scale fibre-reinforced polymeric composites. To reliably emulate CF plasma treatments for industrial polymeric composites manufacture, the bulk plasma must be characterised to produce the same reactive species in a non-identical plasma device. Integration of plasma diagnostics can spearhead interdisciplinary work to predict CF surface modification throughout the bundle and fabric, substituting the trial and error status quo. To justify the use of plasma, its environmental, social, and economic impact must be quantitatively compared to alternative fibre surface treatments. •Survey of carbon fibre plasma treatment parameters for polymeric matrix composites.•Plasma processing parameters and their relation to fibre surface properties.•Demand for data-driven plasma-process modelling.•Limited and unquantified data on the environmental impact of plasma processes.