Ultrasound assisted process for enhanced interlaminar shear strength of carbon fiber/epoxy resin composites

Abstract

The infuence of ultrasonic treatment, applied during the impregnation of carbon fiber bundle by resin system, on interface sensitive properties of carbon fiber/epoxy resin composites has been analyzed. The formation of the network has been followed on model composites containing untreated, oxidized and epoxy sized fibers by Fourier transform infrared microscopy (FTIR-microscopy) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The enhanced interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), found for the composites treated by ultrasound, is attributed to the formation of more homogeneous and dense network, which is especially pronounced for epoxy sized carbon fiber composites.