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Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to investigate the solid‐state cure process of poly(phenylene sulfide)(PPS) resin. Virgin PPS resin in an open sample pan was cured in DSC cell. Either air or oxygen was used as a curing atmosphere. Cure temperatures were in the range of 200 and 250 °C, which are below the melting point of PPS resin. Cure temperature as well as atmospheric condition influenced the cure behavior of PPS in the solid state. Both the rate and the amount of cure increased with increasing cure temperature. On the other hand, the time to reach the maximum cure rate was independent of cure temperature. Changing the atmosphere from air to oxygen increased both the cure rate and the amount of cure. The size effect of PPS particles on the cure reaction was also discussed.

Oxygen plasma treatment was used to introduce functional groups on the surface of polyacrylonitrile‐based carbon fibers. The fiber surface was examined by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy after treatment. The amount of functional groups on the fiber surface initially increased with increasing treatment time up to 2 min, thereafter remaining constant. The variation of surface energy with plasma treatment showed a similar trend. The plasma treatment affected the surface area and the mechanical properties of carbon fibers. The surface area increased but the mechanical properties decreased with increasing treatment times. The plasma treatment also changed the morphology of the fiber surface.

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