ION-BEAM MODIFICATION OF CARBON-FIBER

The ion beams generated from gases, methane-hydrogen, oxygen, and nitr ogen in a low voltage ion source with kinetic energy 400-1,000 eV, wer e used to modify the surfaces of commercial carbon fibers. After the i on treatments, single filament tensile stress as well as fiber-epoxy i nterfacial adhesive strength was found to increase substantially. The modification by ion beams results in profound alterations of surface m orphology and topology. The enhanced mechanical properties of carbon f ibers are discussed from fiber surface microstructures acid ion beam p rocessing parameters.