Waterborne Polyurethane/Nano‐SiO 2 Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Sizing Agents for Enhanced Mechanical Properties of Carbon Fibers/Epoxy Composites

The bond strength between carbon fiber (CF) and sizing agent and the surface roughness of CF play a vital role in improving the interfacial properties of composite materials. In order to solve this problem, a new multiscale enhancement strategy is developed. Through the hydrolysis reaction of anhydrous silica sol in self‐emulsifying highly hydrophilic waterborne polyurethane (WPU) emulsion, the generated crosslinked network of SiOSi bonds generates hydrogen bond interaction between CF surface and WPU, which enhances the bonding strength of sizing agent to CF. At the same time, the nano‐SiO 2 generated by hydrolysis further improves the interfacial stress transfer of the composites through the interlocking…

• NS
  Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province
• PG
  People's Government of Jilin Province
• NS
  Natural Science Research Project of Guizhou Provincial Education Office

  Award: (JJKH20230307KJ