Determining the Surface Properties of Carbon Fiber in Contact Interaction with Polymeric Binders

Resumo

Application of various criteria for evaluating the wettability of the surface of carbon fibers of Torayca T 300 3K brand was considered. A simulation of the carbon fiber impregnation in fabrication of a composite material was used to determine the thermodynamic parameters (surface energy, works of adhesion and cohesion) and the wetting angle for three kinds of promising polymeric binders. It was found that the best impregnation conditions for carbon fiber of Torayca T 300 3K brand (Cm12073 fabric) will be for the filament not subjected to thermal treatment because the capillary rise of the organic solvent simulating the polymeric binder decreases by 14% on removing the finishing oil. The presence of the Infutac layer fixer used to fabricate reflector segments raises the time of penetration of the polyurethane (with shape memory) and epoxy binders into the fabric sheet, makes the impregnation six times lower, and has no effect on the time of impregnation of carbon fibers with the silicone binder.