Abstract:
A prepreg includes; sizing agent-coated carbon fibers coated with a sizing agent; and a thermosetting resin composition impregnated into the sizing agent-coated carbon fibers. The sizing agent includes an aliphatic epoxy compound (A) and an aromatic compound (B) at least containing an aromatic epoxy compound (B1). The thermosetting resin composition includes a thermosetting resin (D) and a latent hardener (E), and optionally includes an additive (F) other than the thermosetting resin (D) and the latent hardener (E). The (a)/(b) ratio is within a predetermined range where (a) is the height of a component at a binding energy assigned to CHx, C—C, and C═C and (b) is the height of a component at a binding energy assigned to C—O in a C1s core spectrum of the surfaces of the sizing agent-coated carbon fibers analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
Abstract:
Sizing agent coated carbon fibers obtained by coating carbon fibers with a sizing agent comprising at least one of (A) to (C) in a total amount of 80 mass % or more with respect to the whole sizing agent, the carbon fibers each having a surface layer which has a thickness of 10 nm or larger and has an oxygen content of 4% or higher with respect to all the elements, wherein when the sizing agent coated carbon fibers are subjected three times to a 10-minute ultrasonic treatment in an acetone solvent, then the amount of the remaining sizing agent is 0.1-0.25 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the sizing agent coated carbon fibers. (A) At least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyimides, polyetherimides, and polysulfones (B) A compound having a terminal unsaturated group and a polar group in the molecule (C) A polyether-type aliphatic epoxy compound and/or a polyol-type aliphatic epoxy compound which each have an epoxy equivalent of 250 g/eq or less and have two or more epoxy groups in the molecule
Abstract:
Disclosed is a method for producing a sizing agent-coated carbon fibers, wherein at least one kind of sizing agent that is selected from the group consisting of sizing agents (a), (b) and (c) is used for coating, in each of the sizing agents a bi- or higher functional epoxy compound (A1) and/or an epoxy compound (A2) being used as a component (A), and the epoxy compound (A2) having a mono- or higher functional epoxy group and at least one functional group that is selected from among a hydroxyl group, an amide group, an imide group, a urethane group, a urea group, a sulfonyl group and a sulfo group. The sizing agent is applied to carbon fibers and the resulting is subjected to a heat treatment within the temperature range of 160-260° C. for 30-600 seconds.
Abstract:
Sizing agent-coated reinforcing fibers include reinforcing fibers and a sizing agent containing a polyrotaxane, the reinforcing fibers being coated with the sizing agent. Provided are sizing agent-coated reinforcing fibers that provide a fiber-reinforced composite material with excellent mechanical properties, a method for producing the sizing agent-coated reinforcing fibers, a prepreg including the sizing agent-coated reinforcing fibers, and a fiber-reinforced composite material with excellent mechanical properties including the sizing agent-coated reinforcing fibers.