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Abstract
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The carbon fibers were oxidized with concentrated hydrochloric acid, and subsequently modified in two steps. First, the oxidized carbon fibers were grafted with γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (KH550) with the purpose of building a platform on the fiber surface, and then the epoxy functionalized elastomer (ethylenevinyl acetate-glycidyl methacrylate terpolymer, EVMG) was grafted on the carbon fiber surface. Chloroprene rubber/Natural rubber/Carbon fiber (CR/NR/CF) composites were prepared by the mechanical blending process. Carbon fibers were characterized by different techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The results demonstrate that EVMG can enhance the interface adhesion between fiber and rubber. It has been observed that the surface of the carbon fiber is covered with a layer of macromolecular film by EVMG, which increases the surface roughness, and introduces epoxy groups. On the one hand, carbon fiber and rubber can be entangled through macromolecular chains, and on the other hand, the interfacial bonding can be enhanced by chemical interactions. The results show that after modification by EVMG, the tensile strength of CF composites increased by 11.05%, the 300% constant tensile stress increased by 21.87%, and DIN abrasion increased by 29.8% respectively. Keywords: Carbon fibers, EVMG, Composites, Interfacial adhesion
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