A study of the impact properties of composites consisting of surface-modified glass fibers in vinyl ester resin

Abstract

In order to study the effect of fiber surface treatment on the impact properties of glass-fiber/vinyl ester composites, glass fiber was surface-treated with polybutadiene(PB), γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (γ-MPS), and γ-MPS-modified polybutadiene (PB/γ-MPS). The relationship between the interlaminar shear strength and impact properties of the composites was examined. In addition, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the fracture surfaces of impacted composites. PB-treated composites showed a higher impact-energy-absorption capability than untreated composites because of the interfacial strength and ductile failure of the composite. In contrast, γ-MPS-treated composites showed lower impact-energy-absorption capability as a consequence of brittle failure by fiber breakage. For PB/γ-MPS-treated composites, the highest impact-energy-absorption was exhibited by chain deformation and slippage of long and flexible entangled-PB/γ-MPS chains.