Chemical Modification of Fiber‐Matrix Interfaces of Glass Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastics and Methods for Interface Characterization

Abstract

Depreciation of natural resources leads to an increasing demand for sustainable materials. Fiber-reinforced plastics are known for combining low specific weight with high stiffness and toughness, making them the preferred material for the design of lightweight structures. However, one of the main problems with the use of this material is the limited recyclability of the material due to the necessity to split up the fiber and matrix composite into its constituents. Furthermore, the use recycled fibers require the use a recyclable sizing or alternatively, the cleaning, and re-application of new sizing to the fibers. The goal of this paper is to introduce a method to improve the mechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic polymers through a re-usable chemical modification of the fiber-matrix interface by using adhesion promoting coatings. The surface reactions in this approach are suitable for a wide spectrum of matrix systems. In a second part of the present paper, a characterization method for determination of the interface properties is suggested. For this purpose, micro tensile specimens are prepared and tested. The experiments are evaluated numerically using a finite element simulation based on 1:1 models of the specimens in conjunction with reverse engineering.

Recent Progress in Modifications, Properties, and Practical Applications of Glass Fiber

“…The polymer was covalently connected to the fiber surface. This type of sizing agent is nonspecific, widely applicable, and reusable [ 61 ].…”

“…Hamid et al coated the surface of GF with PDMAA, PS, and PFA polymers with different surface energies to adjust the wetting behavior of GF ( Figure 2 C). The GF surface changed from super hydrophilic to very hydrophobic [ 61 ]. Luo et al compared water absorption in AM-modified GF in different treatment stages.…”

“…The film-forming agent reduces the generation of new defects and promotes the healing of old defects. In addition, the defect repair hypothesis explains the improvement of the fiber tensile strength, and sizing affects the number and size of the fiber surface defects through the repair mechanism [ 61 ]. APTES pulp fiber has the highest average strength, and it is higher than the average strength of only silane-sizing fibers.…”

One-step fabrication of three-dimensional macropore copolymer-modified polycarbonate array by photo-crosslinking for protein immunoassay

“…18 The BP is used to modify any surface with a C–H group, 19 whereas polymers containing the BP groups serve as a simple and efficient photo-cross-linking tool for modifying different surfaces. These surfaces modified by BP-containing polymers are widely used in biosensing, 20,21 coating, 22 composite material 23 and surface patterning. 24–26…”

Enhanced high‐temperature tribological performance of PTFE/PI fabric composites by simultaneously introducing PDA/SiO2 hybrid coating and aramid product reinforcements

“…[ 26 ] More recently, various surface modification techniques have been developed, including cryogenic treatment, plasma treatment, ultrasonic radiation, chemical coating, and grafting. [ 27–29 ] Among these methods, mussel‐inspired polydopamine (PDA) has drawn great attention for its simplicity, versatility, pro‐environment, and un‐damage. [ 30–31 ] Despite that, PDA‐based coating still suffers from uneven roughness, weak stability, insufficient surface wettability, and slow deposition rate.…”