The Role of Coupling Agents in Composite Durability

We investigated the role of coupling agents with respect to the relative durability of glass fiber/epoxy matrix composites exposed to water, which degrades both glass fibers and the fiber-matrix interface. Interface chemistry was tailored by coating fibers with mixtures of different coupling agents. Single-fiber fragmentation test results showed little decrease in the strengths of the interface and a slight decrease in fiber strengths upon exposure to water. XPS results showed expected variations in surface composition. Contact angle measurements demonstrated variations in surface hydrophobicity as coupling agent mixtures were changed.