Effect of coupling treatment on the interface characteristic of nickel plating carbon fiber/resin

The nickel plating carbon fibers were modified by the coupling agent KH560. The surface morphology, structure, wettability of fiber, as well as the surface state and adhesive interaction of fiber/resin before and after the coupling treatment were characterized by SEM, FTIR, contact angle measurement and single fiber fragmentation test, respectively. The results show that the surface of nickel layer is flat, polar groups such as hydroxyl increases and the film on surface of nickel layer is intact after the coupling treatment of KH560. The wettability of nickle plating carbon fiber/resin is improved. There is no bubble on the interface of nickel plating carbon fiber/resin. The interface debonding on both sides of breakpoints decreases. The saturation breakpoints of single fiber increase from 46 to 65. The interfacial shear strength of nickel plating carbon fiber/resin increases from (34.87±2.23) MPa to (72.51±3.77) MPa.