THE ROLE OF SIZING RESINS IN CARBON-FIBER-REINFORCED POLYETHERSULFONE(PES)

The role of sizing resin in carbon fibre-reinforced polyethersulfone h as been studied using surface-treated Type A carbon fibre sized with d ifferent polymeric coatings. To investigate their influence on the adh esion of the carbon fibre to the matrix, the single embedded filament fragmentation test was used, Sized carbon fibres showed a higher inter facial shear strength than the unsized ones. Analysis by time-of-fligh t secondary ion mass spectrometry suggests that this arises from a str ong interaction between sizing resin, the fibre and the matrix.