Large pulsed electron beam (LPEB)-processed woven carbon fiber/ZnO nanorod/polyester resin composites

The surface modification of materials by large pulsed electron beam (LPEB) processing is an emerging eco-friendly technique that can be applied to relatively large surface areas. In this study, a polyester-based woven carbon fiber (WCF)/ZnO nanorod hybrid composite was developed using a vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding process. LPEB processing was used to modify the surface of the carbon fiber (CF) composite prior to the growth of the ZnO nanorods. The effects of this electron beam treatment on WCFs were investigated by scanning electron microscopy as a function of ZnO nanorod growth. LPEB treatment resulted in a remarkable increase in the growth of ZnO nanorods. This increase, which resulted in an increase in the electrical resistance of the samples, was further investigated by X-ray diffraction analyses. LPEB-treated samples exhibited higher impact resistance due to strong interactions among the ZnO, CF, and polyester resin. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.