Interphase mechanical properties

Keywords SiCf/SiC Composite, Electrophoretic Deposition, Interphases, Mechanical Properties... 

The interface region thus formed has a substantial thickness, and its chemical, physical and mechanical properties are different from those of either the bulk fiber and the matrix (i.e., the interphase as opposed to the interface of zero thickness). The interphase is found to be significantly softer than the bulk matrix material in polymer matrix composites (Williams et al., 1990 Tsai et al., 1990). For example,... 

The mechanical properties of the blend of silane/size and bulk epoxy matrix (at concentrations representing likely compositions found at the fiber-matrix interface region) also suggest that the interaction of size with epoxy produces an interphase which is completely different to the bulk matrix material (Al-Moussawi et al., 1993). The interphase material tends to have a lower glass transition temperature, Tg, higher modulus and tensile strength and lower fracture toughness than the bulk matrix. Fig. 5.4 (Drown et al., 1991) presents a plot of Tg versus the amount of... 

Chua, P.S., Dai, S.R. and Piggott, M.R. (1992b). Mechanical properties of the glass fiber-polyester interphase. Part 2 - Effect of water on debonding. J. Mater. Sci. 27, 919-924. 

The term interphase has been used to refer to the region which is formed as a result of the bonding and reaction between the fiber and matrix. The morphological or chemical composition and thermo-mechanical properties of the interphase are... 

As mentioned in the introduction to the section on composites, the interphase, or the region between the matrix and the reinforcement, is often the primary determinant of mechanical properties of the composite. It can have an effect on other properties as well, but since it serves to transfer loads from the matrix to the reinforcement, its primary impact is on the strength of the composite. 

Although a number of filler characteristics influence composite properties, particle size, specific surface area, and surface energetics must again be mentioned here. All three also influence interfacial interactions. In the case of large particles and weak adhesion, the separation of the matrix/ filler interface is easy, debonding takes place under the effect of a small external load. Small particles form aggregates which cause a deterioration in the mechanical properties of the composites. Specific surface area, which depends on the particle size distribution of the filler, determines the size of the contact surface between the polymer and the filler. The size of this surface plays a crucial role in interfacial interactions and the formation of the interphase. 

The thickness of the interphase is a similarly intriguing and contradictory question. It depends on the type and strength of the interaction and values from 10 Ato several microns have been reported in the hterature for the most diverse systems [47,49,52,58-60]. Since interphase thickness is calculated or deduced indirectly from some measured quantities, it depends also on the method of determination. Table 3 presents some data for different particulate filled systems. The data indicate that interphase thicknesses determined from some mechanical properties are usually larger than those deduced from theoretical calculations or from extraction of filled polymers [49,52,59-63]. The data supply further proof for the adsorption of polymer molecules onto the filler surface and for the decreased mobility of the chains. Thermodynamic considerations and extraction experiments yield data which are not influenced by the extent of deformation. In mechanical measurements, however, deformation of the material takes place in all cases. The specimen is deformed even during the determination of modulus. With increasing deformations the role and effect of the immobilized chain ends increase and the determined interphase thickness also increases (see Table 3) [61]. 

The use of irradiated PTFE powder in EPDM gives enhanced mechanical properties as compared to composites containing nonirradiated PTFE. The existence of compatibility between modified PTFE powder and EPDM is indirectly revealed by , DSC, and SEM. shows that modified PTFE powder (500 kGy-irradiated) is obviously but partially enwrapped by EPDM as compared to nonirradiated PTFE powder. This leads to a characteristic compatible interphase around the modified PTFE. The resultant chemically coupled PTFE-filled EPDM demonstrates exceptionally enhanced mechanical properties. Crystallization studies by DSC also reveal the existence of a compatible interphase in the modified-PTFE-coupled EPDM. The synergistic effect of enhanced compatibility by chemical coupling and microdispersion of PTFE agglomerates results in improvement of mechanical properties of PTFE-coupled EPDM compounds. In summary, an effective procedure both for the modification of PTFE powder as well as for the crosslinking of PTFE-filled EPDM by electron treatment has been developed for the preparation of PTFE-coupled EPDM compounds with desired properties. 

Because of the chemical and structural differences of this coupling agent interphase layer, the mechanical properties of this region would be expected to be quite different from the bulk epoxy. Indeed, Lipatov 62) has shown that the addition of silanes changes the mechanical strength and chemical resistance of interphase regions. 

Composite mechanical properties measured parallel to the fibers axis direction are not in general very sensitive to the interphase. The fiber itself is the major load bearing element in the composite and does not require much support from the matrix. 

Given the existence of interphases and the multiplicity of components and reactions that interact to form it, a predictive model for a priori prediction of composition, size, structure or behavior is not possible at this time except for the simplest of systems. An in-situ probe that can interogate the interphase and provide spatial chemical and morphological information does not exist. Interfacial static mechanical properties, fracture properties and environmental resistance have been shown to be grealy affected by the interphase. Careful analytical interfacial investigations will be required to quantify the interphase structure. With the proper amount of information, progress may be made to advance the ability to design composite materials in which the interphase can be considered as a material variable so that the proper relationship between composite components will be modified to include the interphase as well as the fiber and matrix (Fig. 26). 

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