CHARACTERIZATION OF COATINGS OF POLY(HEXAMETHYLENE ADIPAMIDE) DEPOSITED ON CARBON-FIBERS BY INTERFACIAL POLYMERIZATION TECHNIQUES

Polyamide coatings deposited on carbon fibers by means of an interfaci al in situ polymerization technique have been examined. Two different coating processes were used, depending on the length of the carbon fib ers (short or long). The effect of the concentration of the monomer re actants on the quantity of coating deposited on the fibers has been de termined using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Characterization tech niques used to identify the nature of the coating process product incl uded Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and gel pe rmeation chromatography (GPC). Using the above techniques, IR spectra were collected and identified, and important polymer properties, such as morphology, melting point, and the molecular weight of the polymer coating were determined. (C) 1995 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.