Secondary silane grafting on aramid fibers improves the interfacial bonding performance in textile composite materials

Abstract

To improve the chemical and physical surface features of aramid fibers and the bonding quality at the interface, carbon nanotubes, dopamine and silane coupling reagent KH560 were used to modify the surface of aramid fibers. The fiber surface was characterized by FTIR, XPS, SEM and AFM. The single-fiber specific strength, surface roughness, wettability and interfacial shear strength of the modified fiber were quantified. Finally, the uniaxial tensile behaviour of the textile composite laminate with the modified fibers was tested. The experimental results show that: after the grafting of silane coupling reagent as a second modification step, the amount of oxygen-containing groups on the surface of aramid fibers, and the surface roughness, and the ability to impregnate resin are further improved. The single-fiber specific strength, the interfacial shear strength by fiber pull-out tests, and the tensile strength of the laminate are increased by 21.62%, 73.57%, and 51.60%, respectively. This work demonstrates a general surface modification strategy working for diverse types of fibers, synthetic or natural. The present findings help to develop a broad range of high-performance textile composites to address long-term challenges in structural engineering.

Study on the performance of ATP grafting basalt fiber based on the plant root bionic idea and its adsorption characteristics with asphalt

“…C.Y. Li et al [22] modified the surface of aramid fiber by using carbon nanotubes, dopamine, and silane coupling reagent KH560. After modification, the amounts of oxygen-containing groups on the surface of the aramid fiber, surface roughness, and the ability to impregnate resin were further improved.…”

Mechanical properties of modified aramid three‐dimensional braided composites

“…High‐energy particle treatment requires reasonable process control, and surface etching often causes a loss of fiber strength. Dopamine, as a general surface treatment material, is suitable for modifying the surface of various substances, and is a simple and efficient surface treatment approach that can improve the surface properties of AF well, but also has the problem of high cost 17,18 …”

“…Dopamine, as a general surface treatment material, is suitable for modifying the surface of various substances, and is a simple and efficient surface treatment approach that can improve the surface properties of AF well, but also has the problem of high cost. 17,18 On the other hand, most textile composites are based on epoxy resin, which has good adhesion to fiber-reinforced materials, is compatible with various curing systems, and has good thermal, mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties, enabling a wide range of applications in adhesives, automotive, industrial tools, and composites. 19 However, the high crosslink density, brittleness, and poor resistance to crack initiation and expansion after epoxy resin's curing essentially limit its application in specific high-technology fields.…”