Interfacial properties of microwave cured composites

• Published in: Composites Vol. 26; no. 9; pp. 645 - 651
• Main Authors: Bai, S.L., Djafari, V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier B.V 1995; Butterworth-Heinemann
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Composites; E-glass fibre/epoxy composite; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; interfacial properties; microwave cured composites; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Technology of polymers; interfacial properties; microwave cured composites; E-glass fibre/epoxy composite; Continuous fiber; Unidirectional fiber material; Fiber reinforced material; Rupture; Mechanical properties; Epoxy resin; Microwave; Shear strength; Bending stress; Experimental study; Composite material; Mechanism; Tensile strength; Tensile stress; Curing(plastics); Glass fiber; Damaging
• ISSN: 0010-4361; 1878-7134
• DOI: 10.1016/0010-4361(95)98913-6

A unidirectional continuous E-glass fibre/epoxy composite was cured using microwaves. The mechanical behaviour of the composite was studied by in situ transverse tensile and short-beam bending tests. The mechanisms of rupture were analysed. By comparing microwave cured composites (MCCs) with thermal cured composites (TCCs), it was found that more voids exist in MCCs than in TCCs. This difference is considered to be due to the shorter time and lower applied pressure of microwave curing. It appears that the fibre-matrix interface of MCCs is stronger than that of TCCs according to the experimental results and observations. The thermal gradient across the fibre-matrix interface seems to play a role in its final quality.