Increasing Bending Strength of Polycarbonate Reinforced by Carbon Fiber Irradiated by Electron Beam

Abstract

In an interlayered carbon fiber-reinforced polycarbonate polymer (CFRPC) composite composed of three sized of CF plies, alternating between four PC sheets, designated [PC]4[CF]3, and a new process of activating CF cross-weave cloth plies directly on both sides with homogeneous low-energy electron beam irradiation (HLEBI) before lamination assembly and hot pressing at 6.0 MPa and 537 K for 8 min was produced. Experimental results show that a dose of 215 kGy of HLEBI raised the bending strength, σb, at each experimental accumulative probability, Pa, with the σb at a median Pa of 0.50, increasing by 25% over that of the untreated sample. Three-parameter Weibull analysis showed that when quality can be controlled, a dose of 215 kGy of HLEBI can raise the statistically lowest bending strength, σs, at Pa = 0 (94.3 Mpa), with a high correlation coefficient. This is because, although it had a higher bending strength than that in the other experimental conditions, the weakest sample of the 215 kGy data set had a much lower σb value than that of the others. Electron spin resonance (ESR) of the CF showed that naturally occurring dangling bonds in CF were increased at 215 kGy. Charge transfer to the PC occurs, apparently generating stronger bonds, which are possibly covalent, resulting in enhanced adhesion at the CF–PC interface.