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The effects of transcrystalline interphase in advanced polymer composites
Author(s) -
Chen Eric J. H.,
Hsiao Benjamin S.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.760320408
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , interphase , aramid , polyacrylonitrile , fiber , polymer , composite number , ultimate tensile strength , genetics , biology
Surface‐induced transcrystallization in fibers has been reported in some advanced polymer composites. It is believed that transcrystalline interphase may affect stress transfer efficiency between the reinforcing fiber and the matrix. In this study, attempts were made to examine the effects of transcrystallinity on composite performance, particularly on fiber‐matrix interfacial bond strength, and to investigate possible attributes of transcrystallization. Three polymer resins, poly(etherketoneketone) (PEKK), poly(etheretherketone) (PEEK), and poly(phenylenesulfide) (PPS), and four types of fiber, polyacrylonitrile (PAN)‐based AU‐4 (untreated AS‐4) carbon, pitch‐based carbon, poly (p‐phenylene terephthalamide) (PPDT) aramid, and E‐glass were used. It was found that PPDT aramid and pitch‐based carbon fibers induce a transcrystalline interphase in all three polymers because of an epitaxial effect. Under certain conditions, transcrystallization was also observed in PAN‐based carbon and E‐glass fibers, which may be partially attributed to the thermal conductivity mismatch between the fiber and the matrix. Plasma treatment on fiber surface showed a negligible effect on inducing transcrystallization, whereas solution‐coating of PPDT on the fiber surface showed a positive effect. The Microdebonding test, which measures the interfacial bond strength between the fiber and the matrix, consistently showed more than 40% increments for various single filament systems with transcrystalline interphase versus without. However, the effects of transcrystallinity on the interfacial bond strength appeared to decrease as the fiber content increased in composites.