Influence of ultrasonic treatment on the characteristics of epoxy resin and the interfacial property of its carbon fiber composites

To enhance the interfacial property between a carbon fiber and epoxy matrix, an ultrasonic technique was used to treat the resin liquid and the impregnated fibers respectively. The effects of the treatments on the characteristics of the resin system and the fiber surface, as well as fiber/matrix interfacial bonding strength, were analyzed and discussed. The results indicated ultrasonic treatments significantly decreased the viscosity and surface tension of the resin system, and increased the wettability and the oxygen content of the fiber surface due to the ultrasonic cavitation effects. Microbond tests revealed much more increase of interfacial shear strength when the ultrasound was applied to the impregnated fibers, and combination failures of interface and matrix layer were observed from the pulled-out fiber surface.