The Effect of Silane Surface Treatment of Carbon Fiber on the Tribological Properties of Bismaleimide(BMI) Composite

Abstract

Silane surface modification method was used for the surface treatment of carbon fiber to improve the interfacial adhesion of the carbon fiber reinforced bismaleimide(BMI) composite. The surface characteristics of untreated and treated carbon fiber were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscope. The friction and wear properties of the BMI composites filled with differently surface treated carbon fibers(20 vol%), were investigated on a ring-on-block tribometer. Experimental results revealed that silane treatment largely reduced the friction and wear of CF/BMI composites. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) of worn surfaces of BMI composites showed that surface treated CF/BMI composite had the strongest interfacial adhesion.

Keywords:

• BMI
• Carbon fiber
• Friction
• Interfacial adhesion
• Silane
• Wear

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was supported by Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai (08DZ2271100), Shanghai Leading Academic Discipline Project (S30206, T0202), supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30470480, a foundation of Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau (2008y101), Medical Engineering Cross Research Foundation of Shanghai Jiaotong University (YG2008MS37, YG2011MS23).