Atomic force microscopy studies of short melamine fiber reinforced EPDM rubber

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) was used to investigate the morphology and interfacial properties of unaged and aged Ethylene Propylene Diene (EPDM) rubber-melamine fiber composites. Interfacial adhesion between the fiber and the matrix was weak in the absence of a dry bonding system consisting of hexamethylene tetramine, resorcinol and hydrated silica (HRH). AFM images revealed the formation of an interface between the fiber and the matrix with the addition of the bonding agents. Ageing of the composites improved the adhesion between the fiber and the matrix, which was evident from the topographic images of the aged composites. It was found that two-dimensional and three-dimensional topographic images from AFM could be used to determine fiber geometry, fiber diameter and fiber-matrix adhesion in short fiber-rubber composites. (C) 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers.