Composites Formed by Glass Fibers and PS-Modified Epoxy Matrix. Influence of the Glass Fibers Surface on the Morphologies and Mechanical Properties of the Interphases Generated Articles uri icon

publication date

  • June 2010

start page

  • 946

end page

  • 955

issue

  • 6

volume

  • 31

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0272-8397

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1548-0569

abstract

  • In this work, the influence of the nature of the reinforcement surface on the interfacial morphologies developed in E-glass fibers/polystyrene (PS)-modified epoxy composites has been studied. Different surface
    modifications of the fibers were considered. In a complementary way,
    morphological analysis and nanoindentation measurements were carried out
    using atomic force microscopy to subsequently correlate the interfacial
    structure with the morphologies observed. In every composite,
    reaction-induced phase separation happened with a morphology composed of
    PS-rich domains immersed in an epoxy-rich phase. However, depending on
    the surface modification of the glass fibers, different distributions of
    PS-rich domains at the interfaces were obtained. The results were
    interpreted in terms of a gradual phase separation process because of
    stoichiometric gradients from the glass fibers surface to the matrix
    bulk caused by specific segregation of one of the components of the
    reactive epoxy mixture to the fibers occurs. It was concluded that
    specific and controlled reinforcement modification allows obtaining
    tailored interfaces formed by a polymer blend and a reinforcement in
    which the morphology can be previously selected.