X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray excited Auger electron spectroscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy characterization of carbon fibres activated by d.c. corona discharge at ambient pressure and temperature

High modulus polyacrylonitrile-derived fibres were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray excited Auger electron spectroscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy after d.c. corona discharge treatments under a nitrogen atmosphere at ambient pressure and temperature. The results allow identification of the main functional groups produced by the treatment on the fibre surface and verification of a substantial equivalence of negative- and positive corona discharge treatments.