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Mechanical characterization of woven carbon fiber composites with poly(methyl methacrylate)–modified epoxy matrices
Author(s) -
Fernández B.,
Mujika F.,
De Benito A.,
Mondragon I.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
polymer composites
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.577
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1548-0569
pISSN - 0272-8397
DOI - 10.1002/pc.10059
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , epoxy , flexural strength , fracture toughness , scanning electron microscope , methyl methacrylate , composite number , poly(methyl methacrylate) , polymer , polymerization
Abstract The influence of the modification of epoxy matrices with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) on the fracture behavior of composite laminates based on woven carbon fibers has been investigated. Three‐point flexural, short beam shear (SBS) and end‐notched flexural tests (ENF) have been carried out. Microstructural features have been investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis of the different epoxy matrices and their corresponding composites shows the power of this technique for microstructural studies. Fracture behavior is compared with that shown by similar bifunctional (DGEBA) epoxy matrix composites. In spite of the two‐phase structure obtained in tetrafunctional (TGDDM) epoxy matrix‐based systems for all PMMA contents, only a small improvement in fracture toughness and interlaminar shear strength properties was obtained. In contrast, for DGEBA bulk matrices and composites, a higher enhancement of fracture toughness was obtained, as a consequence of the lower crosslink densities of bifunctional matrices.