LAUSR

The nano metal–organic framework particles (nano ZIF‐8) are grafted onto the surface of short carbon fibers (SCFs) by a facile in situ growth method in order to functionalize SCFs. The morphology, crystal structure, and chemical element composition of modified SCFs (ZIF‐8@SCFs) are investigated. The grafted nano‐ZIF‐8 could remarkably enhance the roughness, polarity, and wettability of SCFs surface and promote the curing reaction of epoxy composites. The tensile strength, flexural strength, elastic modulus, toughness, and impact strength of the epoxy composites with 1 wt% ZIF‐8@SCFs are increased by 25%, 31%, 51%, 28%, and 42% compared to that of the composites with 1 wt% SCFs, respectively. Furthermore, the storage modulus (E′) and glass transition temperature (Tg) are enhanced from 2558 MPa and 108.2 °C to 3000 MPa and 147.6 °C. The significant improvement in mechanical and thermomechanical properties of the prepared composites could be ascribed to the ameliorated wettability, enhanced mechanical interlock, and increased chemical bonding induced by ZIF‐8@SCFs.