Evaluation of Interphase Properties in Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite Using Contact Resonance Force Microscopy

Published

November 10, 2008

Author(s)

Donna C. Hurley, Sandeep S. Nair, Siqun Wang

Abstract

The performance of natural fiber reinforced polymer composites as a structural material mainly depends on the quality of stress transfer in the interphase between fiber and polymer in the composite. Till now, researchers have not been able to measure the exact thickness and the mechanical properties of interphase in NFRPC. The purpose of this project was to characterize the interphase thickness and measure the mechanical properties of the interphase for first time using contact resonance force microscopy in cellulose fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites. The influence of different treatments on interphase was analyzed by quantitative mapping of mechanical properties using CR-FM, AFM phase imaging, and nanoindentation. According to the obtained images, the widths of the interphase modified with maleic anhydride polypropylene were estimated to be around 40-190 nm. The modulus values obtained by nanoindentation for fiber and PP matrix were around 13 GPa and 5 GPa respectively. There was a gradient of modulus across the interphase region which ranged between 6 to 11 GPa. The results from this research have demonstrated a new technique to evaluate the nanoscale mechanical properties within the interphase. Information about interphase obtained from this technique is very useful for optimum design of final FRPC products

Proceedings Title

Proceedings of the Society of Wood Science and Technology Annual Convention 2008

Conference Dates

November 10-12, 2008

Conference Location

Concepcion, CL

Conference Title

Society of Wood Science and Technology Annual Convention 2008

Pub Type

Conferences

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

Natural fiber-reinforced composites, interphase, elastic modulus, nanoscale properties

Citation

Hurley, D. , Nair, S. and Wang, S. (2008), Evaluation of Interphase Properties in Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite Using Contact Resonance Force Microscopy, Proceedings of the Society of Wood Science and Technology Annual Convention 2008, Concepcion, CL, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=901133 (Accessed April 26, 2024)