Metallization of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Plastics (CFRP): Influence of Plasma Pretreatment on Mechanical Properties and Splat Formation of Atmospheric Plasma-Sprayed Aluminum Coatings
Source abstract
Abstract
Carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRPs) have broad applications as lightweight structural materials due to their remarkable strength-to-weight ratio. Aluminum is often used as a bond coating to ensure adhesion between CFRPs and further coatings with a higher melting temperature. However, challenges persist in optimizing their surface properties and adhesion attributes for diverse applications. This investigation explores the impact of sandblasting and plasma pretreatment on CFRP surfaces and their influence on plasma-sprayed aluminum coatings. Two distinct CFRP substrates, distinguished by their cyanate ester and epoxy resin matrices, and two different aluminum powder feedstocks were employed. Plasma pretreatment induced micro-surface roughening in the range of 0.5 µm and significantly reduced the contact angles on polished specimens. Notably, on sandblasted specimens, plasma-activated surfaces displayed improved wetting behavior, which is attributed to the removal of polymeric fragments and augmented fiber exposure. Aluminum splats show a better interaction with carbon fibers compared to a polymeric matrix material. The impact of plasma activation on the coating adhesion proved relatively limited. All samples with plasma activation had deposition efficiencies that increased by 12.5% to 34.4%. These findings were supported by SEM single-splat analysis and contribute to a deeper comprehension of surface modification strategies tailored to CFRPs.
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Research context
OpenAlex topics: Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity · Fiber-reinforced polymer composites · Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Institute for Manufacturing Technologies of Ceramic Components and Composites, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 7b, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Funding
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK)
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