Effects of maleic anhydride content on mechanical properties of carbon fibers-reinforced maleic anhydride-grafted-poly-propylene matrix composites

In this work, the effects of maleic anhydride (MA) content on mechanical properties of chopped carbon fibers (CFs)-reinforced MA-grafted-polypropylene (MAPP) matrix composites. A direct oxyfluorination on CF surfaces was applied to increase the interfacial strength between the CFs and MAPP matrix. The mechanical properties of the CFs/MAPP composites are likely to be different in terms of MA content. Surface characteristics were observed by scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and single fiber contact angle method. The mechanical properties of the composites were also measured by a critical stress intensity factor (K_IC). From the K_IC test results, the KIC values were increased to a maximum value of 3.4 MPa with the 0.1% of MA in the PP, and then decreased with higher MA content.