Abstract
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has been used to monitor the surface chemical changes occurring on type II carbon fibers exposed to air, oxygen, and nitrogen plasmas. In all cases the plasmas caused changes in surface functionality, in terms of both C-O and C-N functionality. Prolonged exposure to the plasmas caused loss of surface functionality for air and oxygen plasmas, and extended treatment caused fiber damage. Plasma treatment of fibers promises to be an effective method of fiber treatment.