Electrochemical Polymerization of Methoxy Polyethylene Glycol Acrylate on Carbon Fiber for Improved Interfacial Properties

Abstract: Methoxy polyethylene glycol acrylate (MPGA) was electrochemical polymerized on carbon fiber (CF) by using cyclic voltammetry (CV) to enhance the surface properties of CF. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) investigations confirmed that MPGA electropolymerized on CF (MPGA-CF) was obtained. The low frequency capacitance of MPGA-CF (C LF =5.85 mF·cm -2 ) was higher than CF(C LF =4.75 mF·cm -2 ) based on the result of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS) and the data obtained fitted with an R(Q(R(Q(R(CR))))) equivalent circuit model. Contact angle experiment showed that the contact angle between water and MPGA-CF is significantly lower than that between water and CF. Mechanical experimental results indicated that the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of MPGA-CF/epoxy resin composites (32.24 MPa) has improved by 134.81 % compare with the CF/epoxy resin composites (13.73 MPa), which significantly enhanced interfacial properties of epoxy resin composites.