Carbon fiber reinforced resin matrix composites are widely used in the fields of aerospace, national defense and military industry for the superior properties such as high strength, corrosion resistance, lightness and fatigue resistance. However, the interface damage and failure of composite structural components used in aerospace may occur in high temperature and hygrothermal environment. Sizing agent is an important component of the interface phase of carbon fiber composites. It is of great significance to develop sizing agent which can enhance the interface strength and high thermostability for improving the thermodynamic properties of composites. In the research, from the point of view of carbon fiber surface sizing agent, the interface characteristics of carbon fiber composites, the mechanism of action of sizing agent and the failure mechanism of the interface of carbon fiber composites at high temperature were mainly introduced. Finally, aiming at the disadvantage of poor heat resistance of epoxy sizing agent, the modification of carbon fiber high temperature resistant paint-coat and nano particle modification were described, and the research progress of modified sizing agents such as polyimide, polyetheretherketone, bioactive dopamine, graphene oxide and POSS nanoparticles was mainly introduced. It is pointed out that the development of environment- friendly sizing agent and modification of POSS nanoparticles will be the focus of the future work.