Patent ID: 8227051
Filing Date: 2012-07-24
Classification: C04B,D06M,H05H

Abstract:
1. A method for treating carbon fiber comprising: biasing a tow of carbon fiber to provide a first electrode; forming a non-filamentary plasma discharge between the first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the non-filamentary plasma discharge produces at least one oxidative species from a gas; traversing the tow of carbon fiber through a dielectric cavity that separates the tow of carbon fiber from the second electrode, wherein the tow of carbon fiber is under tension so that it does not contact the sidewalls of the dielectric cavity; and applying the at least one oxidative species to an exposed surface of the tow of carbon fiber within the dielectric cavity at substantially one atmosphere pressure, wherein the at least one oxidative species modifies a surface energy of the at least one carbon fiber.