METHOD OF IMPROVING ADHESION OF CARBON FIBERS WITH A POLYMERIC MATRIX
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A functionalized carbon fiber having covalently bound on its surface a partially cured epoxy or amine-containing sizing agent, wherein at least a portion of epoxide or amine groups in the sizing agent are available as uncrosslinked epoxide or amine groups, which corresponds to a curing degree of epoxide or amine groups of no more than about 0.6. Composites comprised of these functionalized carbon fibers embedded in a polymeric matrix are also described. Methods for producing the functionalized carbon fibers and composites thereof are also described.
-
Citations
95 Claims
-
1-41. -41. (canceled)
- 42. A method of making a solid composite containing carbon fibers embedded in a polymeric matrix, the method comprising admixing carbon fibers with a polymer precursor resin, and curing the polymer precursor resin to form a cured polymeric matrix that contains said carbon fibers embedded therein, wherein said carbon fibers have covalently bonded on their surfaces a partially cured sizing agent comprised of an epoxy resin, wherein at least a portion of epoxide groups in the sizing agent are available as uncrosslinked epoxide groups, which corresponds to a curing degree of epoxide groups of no more than about 0.6.
-
56-85. -85. (canceled)
- 86. A method of making a solid composite containing carbon fibers embedded in a polymeric matrix, the method comprising admixing carbon fibers with a polymer precursor resin, and curing the polymer precursor resin to form a cured polymeric matrix that contains said carbon fibers embedded therein, wherein said carbon fibers have covalently bonded on their surfaces a partially cured amine-containing sizing agent, wherein at least a portion of amine groups in the sizing agent are available as uncrosslinked amine groups, which corresponds to a curing degree of amine groups of no more than about 0.6.
Specification