Carbon fibers having improved surface properties and a method for the preparation thereof

摘要

The invention provides carbon fibers coated on the surface with a layer of an amorphous silicon carbide of the composition SixCy, x and y each being a positive number with the proviso that the ratio y/x is in the range from 0.5 to 2.5, formed by the exposure of the carbon fibers to low temperature plasma generated in an atmosphere containing an organosilicon compound having no oxygen or chlorine atom directly bonded to the silicon atom in the molecule. The carbon fibers are imparted with greatly increased resistance against air oxidation at high temperatures as well as remarkably improved affinity or wettability with plastics and molten metals along with very low reactivity with molten metals so that the carbon fibers are useful as a reinforcing material in the composite materials of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics and metals.