Nanobubble Processing Method for Improved Surface Properties of Recycled Carbon Fibre
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Materials
2.2. Preparation of Nanobubble-Treated Carbon Fibre
2.3. Characterisation of Nanobubble-Treated Carbon Fibre
2.4. Morphology of Nanobubble Treatment Carbon Fibre Surface
2.5. Single Fibre Pull-Out Test of Carbon Fibre Filament
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Effect of Nanobubble Treatment on Carbon Fibre Surface
3.2. Evaluation of the Interfacial Shear Strength (IFSS)
4. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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| Methodology | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Sulfuric acid | Most established industrial method; ensures uniform etching and significantly boosts adhesion. | Requires handling of hazardous electrolytes; substantial burden regarding acidic waste disposal. |
| Microwave | Rapid, localised heating; relatively high energy efficiency during the reaction phase. | Risk of non-uniformity; high capital expenditure for continuous large-scale production lines. |
| Plasma | A dry process; eliminates the need for aqueous waste. Highly effective at increasing surface free energy. | Requires high-vacuum chambers, leading to high costs; limited penetration into dense fibre tows. |
| γ-ray irradiation | Exceptional penetration; modifies the interior of fibre bundles uniformly at ambient temperatures. | Necessity for specialised radiological facilities; stringent safety regulations and perceived environmental risks. |
| Nanobubble | Utilises only water and air/gas. Zero hazardous waste. Low energy consumption; preserves mechanical integrity. | Currently scaling up from pilot to full industrial mass production. |
| Functional Group Assignment | Nontreated vCF Area (%) | O3 Nanobubble-Treated vCF Area (%) | CO2 Nanobubble-Treated vCF Area (%) | Nontreated rCF Area (%) | O3 Nanobubble-Treated rCF Area (%) | CO2 Nanobubble-Treated rCF Area (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C-C, C-H (Graphitic/Hydrocarbon) | 58.03 | 68.07 | 66.28 | 76.04 | 71.67 | 65.85 |
| C-O (Hydroxyl, Ether) | 38.06 | 25.59 | 29.92 | 21.55 | 17.91 | 31.32 |
| O-C=O (Carboxyl, Ester) | 2.70 | 4.07 | 2.73 | 2.40 | 6.90 | 2.60 |
| π–π Satellite (Conjugate) | 1.22 | 2.27 | 1.07 | - | 3.52 | 0.24 |
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Masuda, G.; Anzai, S.; Kioka, A.; Koyanagi, J.; Yokozeki, T. Nanobubble Processing Method for Improved Surface Properties of Recycled Carbon Fibre. Processes 2026, 14, 749. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14050749
Masuda G, Anzai S, Kioka A, Koyanagi J, Yokozeki T. Nanobubble Processing Method for Improved Surface Properties of Recycled Carbon Fibre. Processes. 2026; 14(5):749. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14050749
Chicago/Turabian StyleMasuda, Go, Satoshi Anzai, Arata Kioka, Jun Koyanagi, and Tomohiro Yokozeki. 2026. "Nanobubble Processing Method for Improved Surface Properties of Recycled Carbon Fibre" Processes 14, no. 5: 749. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14050749
APA StyleMasuda, G., Anzai, S., Kioka, A., Koyanagi, J., & Yokozeki, T. (2026). Nanobubble Processing Method for Improved Surface Properties of Recycled Carbon Fibre. Processes, 14(5), 749. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14050749

