Thermal, mechanical and interfacial characterization of a fiberglass reinforced plastic composite

The effects of a glass fiber reinforcer on the properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) were evaluated. A silane coupling agent (M8550 Petrarch Systems, Inc.) was employed to promote adhesion between the materials. FTIR analysis, ESCA/Auger and SEM techniques were used to characterize the silane coating. The mechanical properties, such as bending strength, improved with an increase in the volume percent of fiber. The addition of the M8550 silane directly into the monomer solution showed the most improvement, 23 percent increase, when compared to the uncoated glass fiber. The glass transition temperature as measured by DSC and the heat distortion temperature (HDT) did not appear to be greatly influenced by the presence of the fiber. The linear thermal expansion followed a model proposed by Turner. The silane coupling agent bonding at the fiber/polymer interface was determined by FTIR analysis of treated ground glass. The results indicate that bonding between glass and silane, along with silane and polymer is occurring. SEM photomicrographs of fracture surfaces support this observation. ESCA/Auger analysis of the thickness of the silane coating indicates that coverage is much greater than a monolayer --Abstract, page ii