The Effect of Tripropylamine Modified TiO 2 on Mechanical Properties of CF/PMMA Composites

ABSTRACT Carbon fiber (CF) was coated with tripropylamine (TPA) modified TiO 2 to improve the interfacial bonding performance between CF and PolyMethyl MethAcrylate (PMMA). Fourier infrared spectrometer, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the structure of CFs, surface elemental composition, and surface morphology. The results showed that tripropylamine functionalization of TiO 2 was successfully coated on the surface of CF. The effects of different TiO 2 content on the surface energy, tensile strength, and interlaminar shear strength of CFs were also investigated. It was found that different TiO 2 content could improve the roughness and surface energy of the fiber surface; when the mass fraction of TiO 2 was 3 wt%, its properties were most improved. After being treated by tripropylamine, the surface energy was increased by 29.1%, and the interlaminar shear strength was 89 MPa, which increased by 37.9%. The impact energy absorption increased from 17 to 42 J (140% increase), and tensile strength improved by 38.6%.