Effects of Graphene-Oxide-Modified Coating on the Properties of Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Polypropylene Composites

Graphene oxide (GO) modified with ferrites (GO@Fe3O4) were studied to determine their effect on the interfacial properties of continuous carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites. The GO@Fe3O4were introduced by mixing them directly in an acrylic-styrene (AS) sizing emulsion suitable for the making of continuous carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastics and towpregs. A magnetic field was then generated during the online sizing using coils in order to change the morphology of the coating on the fiber. The effect on the obtained sizing quality and final properties of continuous carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites was then studied. The results showed that the topography of the sized fibers was modified, showing a kind of “drag” effect and more than a 32% increase was obtained for interlaminar shear strength.Keywords:carbon fiber;sizing;coating;composites;graphene oxide