The effect of coupling agents on composite durability

The relationship between fiber surface treatments and glass fiber/epoxy composite durability was investigated. The type of silane coupling agent deposited on the fiber surface was varied, and the single fiber fragmentation test was used to measure strengths of the fiber and the fiber-matrix interface. The samples were tested dry and after conditioned in 75{degrees}C distilled water for up to 10 weeks. With dry samples the interface strengths varied with the reactivity of the silane deposited on the surface. Moisture exposure produced little change in fiber strengths and, for samples containing silane treated fibers, little change in interface strength, even when the silane was unreactive with the epoxy. In contrast, samples containing unsized fibers exhibited significant losses in interface strengths.