Enhancing Effect of Coupling Agent Sizing on the Mechanical Properties of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene Composites

TL;DR

This paper shows that modifying carbon fibers with a chemical treatment improves their bonding with a plastic material, making the final product stronger and more heat-resistant.

Contribution

The novel use of KH792 silane coupling agent to enhance carbon fiber-ABS composite properties via covalent bonding and improved interfacial compatibility.

Findings

KH792 treatment creates a hybrid Si–O–C/Si–O–Si interface on carbon fibers with –NH2 groups bridging to ABS.

Modified carbon fibers show <20° contact angle, higher surface energy, and increased thermal stability (T_onset +17 °C, T_max +10 °C).

CF/ABS composites achieved tensile strengths of 58.41 MPa (injection) and 49.37 MPa (3D-printed), with improved flexural strength.

Abstract

What are the main findings?
KH792 builds hybrid Si–O–C/Si–O–Si interface on CF, with –NH2 bridging to ABS.Modified CF has <20° contact angle, higher surface energy; T_onset +17 °C, T_max +10 °C.CF/ABS tensile strength: 58.41 MPa (injection) and 49.37 MPa (3D-printed).

KH792 builds hybrid Si–O–C/Si–O–Si interface on CF, with –NH2 bridging to ABS.

Modified CF has <20° contact angle, higher surface energy; T_onset +17 °C, T_max +10 °C.

CF/ABS tensile strength: 58.41 MPa (injection) and 49.37 MPa (3D-printed).

What are the implications of the main findings?
KH792 covalent anchoring enhances fiber-matrix interfacial bonding effectively.Higher thermal stability broadens application potential in heat-resistant components.High-performance CF/ABS achieved via both molding and additive manufacturing.

KH792 covalent anchoring enhances fiber-matrix interfacial bonding effectively.

Higher thermal stability broadens application potential in heat-resistant components.

High-performance CF/ABS achieved via both molding and additive manufacturing.

This study investigates the influence of surface-modified carbon fibers (CFs) on the structural and mechanical properties of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)-based composites. A comprehensive approach employing Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), contact angle measurement, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) characterized the CF surface chemistry, wettability, and thermal stability. Specimens were prepared via injection molding and 3D printing processes, enabling systematic evaluation of tensile, flexural, and impact properties. Combined with Scanning Electron Microscopy observations of composite fracture surfaces, the study elucidates how modification treatments influence fiber–matrix interface bonding and mechanical enhancement mechanisms. The results indicate that after resizing treatment with silane coupling agents, the surface activity of CF and its interfacial compatibility with ABS were significantly improved, leading to a marked enhancement in the composite material’s overall performance. At a CF content of 9.62 wt%, the ABS-S-CF2 system exhibited optimal mechanical properties: The tensile strength and flexural strength of the injection-molded specimens reached 58.41 MPa and 81.51 MPa, respectively, representing increases of approximately 41.6% and 29.1% compared to neat ABS. The tensile strength and flexural strength of the printed specimens also reached 49.37 MPa and 80.19 MPa, respectively. Microstructural analysis indicates that the sizing treatment improves the interfacial bonding between CF and neat ABS.

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