Glass fiber/epoxy composites with improved interfacial adhesion by using cross‐linking sizing agent

作者：Yuhao Wang, Dedong Zhang, Xiang Han, Xinxin Li, Chenxi Huyan, Junfeng Li, Dong Liu, Fei Chen · 发表于：Polymer Composites · 年份：2023 · DOI：10.1002/pc.27886 · 被引用次数：14 · 研究领域：Fiber-reinforced polymer composites、Mechanical Behavior of Composites、Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials

Abstract Glass fibers (GFs) are frequently employed as reinforcement fibers for polymer resins such as epoxy and polyester. The mechanical behaviors of GFs polymer composites are nevertheless constrained by weak interfacial adhesion between polymer matrix and GFs. Herein, we invented a cross‐linking modified sizing agent using polyethyleneimine and bisphenol A epoxy emulsion, and studied the effect of cross‐linking extent on GF surface characteristics and GF/epoxy interfacial adhesion. The treatment of GFs with cross‐linking modified sizing agent facilitated the formation of interpenetrating polymer networks in composites for strengthening interface interaction. The results show that the modified GFs have a rough surface and improved interfacial adhesion with epoxy matrix. When sizing agents with cross‐linking extent of the 23.0%, the GF/epoxy composites show advanced interfacial shear strength (IFSS) and transverse fiber bundle tension (TFBT) strength. This work demonstrates that the cross‐linking extent of sizing agent could regulate interfacial adhesion, which is a facile and promising strategy in reinforcing glass fiber polymer composites. Highlights Crosslink the sizing agent to enhance GF mechanical properties was reported. GF surface energy was enhanced and thickness of GF/epoxy interphase increased. IFSS and TFBT strength of the GF/resin composites increased by 23.65% and 30.54%, respectively.