Tensile properties of surface treated carbon fibre reinforced ABS/PA6 composites

In this study, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) terpolymer was reinforced with HNO3 treated short carbon fibres (CFs). The effects of fibre weight fraction on the tensile properties of the composites were examined. Increasing the fibre weight fraction in the ABS matrix from 10 to 30 wt-% resulted in improved tensile strength and tensile modulus. To obtain a strong interaction at the interface, polyamide 6 (PA6) at varying concentrations was introduced into the ABS/10 wt-% CF composite. The incorporation and increasing amount of PA6 in the composites increased tensile properties of the ABS/PA6/CF systems due to the improved adhesion at the interface, which was confirmed by the ratio of tensile strength as an adhesion parameter. These results were also supported by scanning electron micrographs of the ABS/PA6/CF composites, which exhibited an improved adhesion between the CFs and the ABS/PA6 matrix.