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US 6,649,225 B2Granted
Process for the treatment of a fiber
AssigneeBoard of Trustees of Michigan State University
InventorsLawrence T. Drzal, Michael J. Rich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process using ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 160 to 500 nanometers without higher wavelengths and a high intensity between about 1 and 40 watts/cm2 to surface treat a carbon containing fiber is described. The treated fiber contains an enhanced amount of oxygen on the surface which significantly improves the bondability of the fiber in composites.
Claims2
A process for binding oxygen on a surface of a carbon fiber which comprises:
- irradiating the surface of the carbon fiber with ultraviolet light at a high intensity between about 1 to 40 watts/cm2 to modify the surface which is moving relative to a source of the ultraviolet light in a flowing ozone atmosphere, wherein the wavelengths from the source of the ultraviolet light are produced by light pulses from a xenon flashlamp energized by pulses of current and wherein the wavelengths are between about 160 nanometers and 500 nanometers without higher wavelengths, and wherein the irradiated carbon fiber surface contains the bound oxygen from the ozone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.