Page 21 - Engineered Interfaces in Fiber Reinforced Composites

4 Engineered interfaces in jiber reinforced composites

composites. A review of the microfailure mechanisms and their associated theories
of fracture toughness of fiber composites in Chapter 6 identifies that a high bond
strength does not necessarily lead to a high fracture toughness. Instead a
compromise always has to be made in the bond strength to optimize the strength
and toughness. The role of the interface and its effects on the overall performance of
composites is addressed from several viewpoints. Novel methods to improve the
transverse fracture toughness of composites by means of controlled interfaces are
presented in Chapter 7. The effects of residual stresses arising from the thermal
mismatch between the fiber and matrix and the shrinkage of the matrix material
upon cooling from the processing temperature are specifically discussed. Recent
advances in efforts to improve the interlaminar fracture toughness are also critically
reviewed in Chapter 8.

References

Drzal, L.T., Rich, M.J. and Lloyd, P.F. (1983). Adhesion of graphite fibers to epoxy matrices. part I. The
role of fiber surface treatment. J. Adhesion 16, 1-30.
Drzal, L.T. and Madhukar, M. (1993). Fiber-matrix adhesion and its relationship to compositc
mechanical properties. J. Muter. Sci. 28, 569-610.
Kim, J.K. and Mai, Y.W. (1991). High strength, high fracture toughness fiber composites with interface
control-a review. Composites Sci. Technol. 41, 333-378.
Kim, J.K. and Mai, Y.W. (1993). Interfaces in composites. in Structure and Properties of Fiber
Composites, Materials Science and Technology, Series Vol. 13, (T.W. Chou ed.), VCH Publishers,
Weinheim, Germany, pp. 239-289.
Metcalfe, A.G. (1974). Physical-chemical aspects of the interface. In Interfaces in Metal Matrix
Composites, Composite Materials. Vol. 1, (A.G. Metcalfe ed.), New York, Academic Press, pp. 65-
123.