Mr. Alexander et Fr. Jones, EFFECT OF ELECTROLYTIC OXIDATION ON THE SURFACE-CHEMISTRY OF TYPE-A CARBON-FIBERS .1. X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON-SPECTROSCOPY, Carbon, 32(5), 1994, pp. 785-794
The surface chemistry of type A carbon fibres was investigated by usin
g X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Oxidation in an aqueous ammonium b
icarbonate electrolyte was carried out to model the industrial surface
treatment. The changes in the surface chemistry were monitored, and t
he concentrations of surface oxygen and nitrogen were found to increas
e with the degree of fibre treatment. Water and hydrocarbon adsorption
onto the fibre surface upon exposure to ambient conditions has also b
een monitored, which helps to clarify the inconsistencies between oxyg
en concentration determined from the O1s data and C1s curve fitting da
ta in the literature. The nitrogen present in the surface after oxidat
ion was shown to be in a different chemical state to that on the untre
ated fibre. It is postulated that the protonated amine that exists on
the untreated fibre would be capable of reacting with the epoxy resin
functionalities, whereas the nitrogen containing functional group or g
roups present after surface treatment would not.