Effect of ozone treatment on microwave heating properties of carbon fiber

In this study, pitch-based carbon fibers were subjected to ozone treatment, resulting in carbon fibers with enhanced microwave heating performance. The alterations in the surface functional groups of the carbon fiber samples were characterized using XPS and FTIR. Changes in the sample surface area and pore distribution were determined based on the nitrogen adsorption isotherms at 77 K. Raman spectroscopy was used to identify variations in the mechanical structure of the samples. Furthermore, an analysis of the electromagnetic field dependence of carbon fiber microwave heating demonstrated that the primary contributing factor for microwave heating in carbon fibers is their high dielectric loss characteristics. In addition, ozone treatment influenced the dielectric loss of the carbon material. The ozone-treated carbon fibers exhibited enhanced microwave heating performance and superior heating reproducibility. This study provides substantive insights into the concurrent utilization of the multifaceted properties of carbon fibers to engineer microwave absorbers with enhanced efficiency and augmented heat conversion capabilities.