A small area XPS study of the fracture surface of a thermoplastic-modifiedCFRP

Small area XPS at a spatial resolution of 30 mum has been used to study the heterogeneity of the fracture surface of a carbon fibre/epoxy composite wi th thermoplastic PEEK particles incorporated at the interlaminar boundary. Strong evidence was found for a chemical interaction between the PEEK parti cles and the matrix, in particular the curing agent. Careful charge compens ation was required, particularly for the non-conducting PEEK particles alon e which had been mounted on insulating adhesive tape, in order to produce a high quality spectrum. It was also observed that, for the fracture surface s, the application of low energy electrons was successful in eliminating th e differential charging observed during the simultaneous analysis of matrix and particle (insulating), or matrix and fibre (conducting). (C) 2001 Kluw er Academic Publishers.