Abstract
The glass fibre sizing/matrix interactions in a liquid composite moulding environment have been investigated to develop an understanding of the effect of wetting between sized fibre surfaces and the reacting liquid matrix, the structure of the resulting interphase and its effect on fibre/matrix adhesion and composite properties. The overall research objectives in this programme are to develop an experimental protocol for measurement of the key wetting parameters of the fibre and matrix; to quantify the effect of wetting on the mechanical properties of the composites formed by liquid composite moulding; and to formulate a time-, temperature- and geometry-dependent model of the liquid composite moulding process which incorporates the surface properties of the fibre, its finish and the reactive polymer matrix. Results are presented for a series of sized glass fibres consisting of incompatible and compatible sizings, studied with a reacting vinyl ester matrix system. Surface free energy analysis was conducted to characterize the fibre surfaces. Axial and transverse wicking rates were measured to quantify the change in total surface free energy of the fibre/matrix systems. The sizing surface free energy and its solubility in the matrix strongly affected the fibre/matrix interphase formation and consequently the fibre/matrix adhesion and composite shear and flexural strengths.
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