SIZING REMOVAL AND FUNCTIONALIZATION OF THE CARBON-FIBER SURFACE STUDIED BY COMBINED TOF SIMS AND XPS

Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF SIMS) and X-ray ph otoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) have been jointly used to study a two-s tep surface processing of AS4 carbon fiber: extraction of sizing in CH 2Cl2 and functionalization with trimellitic anhydride. The combined in formation on molecular specificity obtained with TOF SIMS and quantifi cation obtained with XPS allows us to follow qualitatively and quantit atively the changes in functional groups on the carbon surface. The re sults show that the sizing on AS4 contains at least four different com pounds. These compounds can be extracted in CH2Cl2 and the elimination is almost complete for silicone. The functionalization of AS4 with tr imellitic anhydride has been realized. The reaction takes place betwee n the amine groups on the carbon fiber and the two types of functional groups in trimellitic anhydride.