SINGLE FIBER FRAGMENTATION TEST FOR GLASS FIBER REINFORCED RING-OPENING METATHESIS POLYMER-BASED COMPOSITES

摘要

Recently, non-polar ring-opening metathesis polymers (ROMP) have demonstrated outstanding toughness and impact performance relative to other structural resins. These ROMP polymers could serve as alternative matrix materials for fiber reinforced composites, particularly in ground vehicle and automotive applications requiring impact resistance. The non-polar nature of these polymers, however, may inhibit interfacial bonding to the fiber or standard epoxy sizing packages. As with all contemporary composite designs, the interface between the fiber and the non-polar ROMP polymers must be evaluated so that the composite benefits from the advantageous impact properties of the resin. Here, the single fiber fragmentation test is used to qualitatively compare the interfacial strength of E-glass fiber-based composite systems utilizing ROMP polymers and various traditional structural polymers. Challenges that arise from testing this composite system using this method are addressed, and design solutions to overcome these challenges are discussed. Our data show that ROMP-based composite system may be tested using the single fiber fragmentation test and that glass fiber interfaces may potentially be tailored using further chemical treatments.