Nano-Textured Fiber Coatings for Energy Absorbing Polymer Matrix Composite Materials

摘要

To meet the weight and performance goals of emerging Army Future Combat Systems. lightweight glass reinforced polymer (GRP) composite materials have been proposed as candidate materials to meet structural and ballistic performance requirements. During manufacture of the glass fibers a thin coating is applied for protection as well as control of performance in composite articles. Conventional glass-fiber coatings (sizings) use organofunctional molecules known as silane coupling agents to enhance the adhesion between the glass fiber reinforcement and the polymeric matrix and to increase the durability of the composite. For industrial glass fiber manufacturing the silane-coupling agent is applied as one of the constituents in a multicomponent fiber sizing package formulation during the initial stages of production. Sizings are essential to the processing and performance of advanced composite materials, yet they are poorly understood. For example, existing sizings are not optimized to simultaneously tailor the static and dynamic response of composite materials. Yet, it has been recognized that these sizings affect structural durability, impact resistance, and damage tolerance of fiber- reinforced composites. Published research indicates that the impact response of a GRP can be tailored for high- energy absorption by designing weak fiber- matrix interfacial interactions. Conversely structural performance (strength) is achieved by strong fiber-matrix interfacial interactions. Hence, the aforementioned trade- offs exist. Although the achievement of simultaneous high strength and energy absorption levels is desirable, the technology has not been available. New approaches are now available to overcome these traditional materials shortcomings.