GLASS-FIBER SIZINGS AND THEIR ROLE IN FIBER MATRIX ADHESION

Silane coupling agents are but one of the many ingredients in commercial sizings that are applied to glass fibers. The action of epoxy-compatible silane coupling agents alone is to increase the fiber-matrix adhesion; however, the action of a silane coupling agent-containing sizing system is not well understood. Research has been conducted in order to determine to what degree an epoxy-compatible glass fiber sizing alters the adhesion between fiber and matrix, as well as to what degree it changes the mechanical properties of the resulting composite. By using blends of epoxy-compatible sizing with bulk matrix, it has been possible to model the properties of the fiber-matrix interphase formed when the sizing interacts with the matrix during composite processing and fabrication. It has been shown in this case that the sizing's interaction with the matrix produces a material with a higher modulus, a greater tensile strength, but a lower toughness. The level of fiber-matrix adhesion increases along with a change in failure mode of the composite caused by the presence of the lower toughness interphase. The results from this study show that a chemical interaction theory of adhesion is not sufficient to explain the effect of fiber-matrix adhesion on composite properties. An interphase-based theory in which the mechanical properties of the interphase are considered along with the chemical interactions between the fiber surface and the sizing offers the best approach for developing these relationships.