Fabrication of polytetrafluoroethylene/carbon fiber composites using radiation crosslinking

A fabrication method for fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) composites based on carbon fibers and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) which was crosslinked by electron beam (EB) irradiation under specific conditions was studied. Thoug h the fabricated composite showed high mechanical properties compared with a ready-made PTFE composite (non-crosslinked PTFE with 5 similar to 20wt% f iller), mechanical properties of laminated panels were a bit poor compared with those of usual FRP. It was found that the toughness of the PTFE matrix is poor in the composite. On the other hand, the one-ply sheet of carbon f ibers and crosslinked PTFE composite showed good mechanical properties for sheet-shape materials. The wettability of the obtained crosslinked PTFE com posite is hardly changed by crosslinking and reinforcement. (C) 2001 Elsevi er Science Ltd. All rights reserved.