Fluorinated carbon fibres and their suitability as reinforcement for fluoropolymers

The interaction between direct fluorinated carbon fibres and various fluoropolymers (ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene, poly vinylidene fluoride, fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer and tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoro alkoxy vinyl ether copolymer) was studied by means of direct wetting measurements between fibres and the polymer melts and single fibre pull-out tests. The results of both techniques allow the adhesion behaviour between the fibres and the matrices to be predicted. The results obtained show that a low degree of surface fluorination of carbon fibres leads to an improved wettability between the fibres and fluoropolymer melts and this is an indicator for an improved thermodynamic work of adhesion. The apparent interfacial shear strength as measure of practical adhesion, determined by the single fibre pull-out test, increases with increasing degree of surface fluorine content up to a maximum, which depends on the degree of fluorination of the matrix used. The improved interaction between the fibre and the matrix is due to an enhanced compatibility at the fibre/matrix interface.