Surface functionalization of carbon fibers with active screen plasma

The active screen plasma technology was used to functionalize carbon fibers and vitreous carbon disks. The plasma treatment conditions were mapped using optical emission spectroscopy and the functionalized surfaces were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and contact angle measurements. A relationship was found between the active species in the plasma and the functional groups attached to the carbon surfaces, which provides valuable information for the optimization of the active screen plasma treatment. Moreover, the surface analyses were repeated over a period of 28 days to study the aging of the functionalized surfaces in air. The hydrophobic recovery was modeled using a surface restructuring theory which revealed a mean lifetime of 3.4 days for the functional groups.