ELECTROCHEMICAL DEPOSITION OF POLYPYRROLE ON CARBON-FIBERS FOR IMPROVED ADHESION TO THE EPOXY-RESIN MATRIX

A method of improving the interfacial bonding between carbon fibre and epoxy resin matrix is developed in the case of continuous electrochemical deposition (ECD) of polypyrrole on carbon fibres. The ECD-treated carbon fibres are characterized by electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), scanning electron microscope (SEM), porous structure analysis and wettability measurements. Furthermore, mechanical evaluation is used to assess the macro-interfacial bonding capability of carbon fibre/epoxy resin composites. It is shown that there is a good interfacial bonding between ECD-treated carbon fibres and the epoxy resin. On the other hand, we also postulate the structure of polypyrrole-coated fibre to explain the bonding mechanism of carbon fibre/epoxy resin composites.