Mechanical properties of epoxies reinforced with chloride-treated aramid fibers

Surface treatment of aramid fibers by immersion in a solution of methacryloyl chloride in carbon tetrachloride was carried out, and the resulting material was examined by means of electron microscopy and chemical analysis in an attempt to record any changes in the morphology and nature of the surface. Mechanical testing of tensile, flexural, and interlaminar shear strength, as well as dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), were performed in an attempt to explore the effect of this treatment on the strength of the fiber. In a subsequent stage, the performance of those fibers as reinforcement in composites of epoxy matrix was assessed. The aim of this study was to provide more information about the interactions between the chloride-treated aramid fibers and the epoxy resin and, more specifically, to compare the behavior of the epoxy matrix composites with those composed of unsaturated polyester, polyethylene, and polyurethane matrix, which were studied in the past. It was found that specimens containing chloride-treated aramids display better flexural properties, whereas their tensile strength is drastically reduced. Improved performance was also identified by the DMA experiments. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.