Mechanical characterization of polymethyl methacrylate composites reinforced with surface-coated carbon fibers

Using trihydroxy polyether polyol (PPG), diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) as soft segment and hard segment, carbon fiber (CF) as reinforcement, and self-crosslinking CF/polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) composite was prepared by prepolymer method. In this study, starch and octanoyl chloride were esterified to obtain esterified starch (SE). The fiber is then melt blended with PMMA matrix to prepare PMMA composite. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and SEM were used to analyze and characterize the composites produced. The results show that the composite material was prepared by separately modifying the fiber with NaOH and SE, respectively. The mechanical properties of the composite materials prepared by the modified fiber are improved, and the fiber and the PMMA matrix showed better compatibility. The mechanism of comodified fiber enhanced the mechanical properties of its composites.