Study Findings: Effects of Plasma or Flame Pretreatment on Bonding of Carbon Fiber Composites

Plasma and flame pretreatment can improve the adhesion of thermoset carbon fiber composites and increase composite strength by 45%
.
That's what researchers from Germany's Innovent Institute found in a scientific study
.

This study examined the effect of pretreatment with plasma or flame on the adhesion of carbon fiber composites
.
Studies have shown that pure atmospheric plasma or flame treatment results in improved adhesion of bonded carbon fiber composite parts by up to about 45%, with only cohesive fractures observed in the adhesive during treatment
.
Furthermore, the pretreatment ensures a more uniform bond
.

The study also showed that there was no correlation between the increase in surface energy and the improvement in adhesion
.
On the other hand, the researchers found that the tensile shear strength was directly related to the oxygen content on the surface of the pretreated carbon fiber composites
.

In design, especially in the connection of fiber-reinforced plastics, there are currently few ways to bypass adhesive technology
.
So far, components have often been pre-treated to achieve stable bonding - either by appropriate chemicals, mechanical roughening or the use of a release layer
.
Dry, gas-phase-based pretreatment methods, such as the use of atmospheric plasma or the application of various flame treatment techniques, are a sensible option for these methods
.