Preparation and Properties of Emulsion Type Sizing Agent for Carbon Fiber

Abstract

The epoxy resin and polyalkylene glycol allyl glycidyl ether (AEPH) were used to prepare the emulsion type epoxy sizing agents for carbon fiber (CF) by phase inversion emulsification method. Effects of mass ratio of mixed emulsifiers and emulsifiers/resin (ωe/r) and shear rate on stability of emulsion were investigated by centrifugal sedimentation analysis. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to analyze the surface morphology of carbon fiber. Results show that the optimal emulsion was obtained when mass ratio of polyoxyethylene octylphenol ether-10 (OP-10), polysorbate-80 (Tween-80) and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) was 65:25:10, ωe/rwas 9% and shear rate was 9000 r/min. The centrifugal sedimentation mass fraction of emulsion is 10.1%. SEM micrograph shows that the sizing agent forms a smooth film covering the carbon fibers.