| Abstract: | The surface of graphitized carbon fibers is oxidatively treated by nitric acid. Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflection spectroscopy has been utilized to monitor the influence of the surface species on the curing of an epoxy system. A curve-fitting program is used to deconvolve the overlapped infrared bands. The integrated intensities of the ester, anhydride, epoxy, and carboxylic acid, plotted against the curing time, clearly show the dependence of the crosslinking process on the concentration of the surface species. The surface groups themselves act as a catalyst: there exists an optimal concentration below which an activation of the curing process occurs. Above that concentration, a retardation of the curing process has been detected. |
