The role of sizing resins in carbon fibre-reinforced polyethersulfone (PES)

Abstract The role of sizing resin in carbon fibre-reinforced polyethersulfone has been studied using surface-treated Type A carbon fibre sized with different polymeric coatings. To investigate their influence on the adhesion of the carbon fibre to the matrix, the single embedded filament fragmentation test was used. Sized carbon fibres showed a higher interfacial shear strength than the unsized ones. Analysis by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry suggests that this arises from a strong interaction between sizing resin, the fibre and the matrix.