• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.59-69
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• 2022

In composite materials, the adhesion and interfacial properties were the most important factors to obtain high performance of mechanical properties. This review paper had been focused on the micromechanical evaluation methods for the interfacial property historically. The interfacial property of fiber-reinforced composites (FRC) could be evaluated using only a single fiber and matrix via various micromechanical testing methods. Self-sensing due to the fracture behavior of FRC could be determined and discussed more critically and clearly using electro-micromechanical evaluation. In this paper, the research trends for micro-mechanical evaluation of composites was summarized, and their practical applications would be suggested in the future.

• Composites Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.11-16
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• 2011

Retention of interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of polymer composites at cryogenic temperature application is very important. In this work, single carbon tiber reinforced epoxy compositc was used to evaluate IFSS and apparent modulus under room and cryogenic temperatures. The property change of carbon and selected epoxy for particularly cryogenic temperature application were tested in tension and compression. Tensile strength and elongation of carbon fiber decreased at cryogenic temperature, whereas tensile modulus was almost same. On the other hand, epoxy matrix showed the increased tensile strength but decreased elongation. It can be due to maximum thermal contraction existing free volume in cryogenic temperature. IFSS increased up to $-10^{\circ}C$ and then decreased steadily. However, IFSS at cryogenic temperature was still similar to that at room temperature. This result is very useful to cryogenic application since selected epoxy toughness and interfacial adhesion can keep at such low temperature.

• Composites Research
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.20-27
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• 2006

Self-sensing and interfacial evaluation of Ni nanowire/polymer composites were investigated using electro-macromechanical technique, which can be used fur a feasible sensing measurement on tensile and compressive loading/consequent unloading, temperature, and humidity. Mechanical properties of Ni nanowire with different aspect ratio and adding contents in either epoxy or silicone composites were measured indirectly using electro-pullout test under uniform and non-uniform cyclic loadings. Comparing apparent modulus with the conventional mechanical tensile modulus of Ni nanowire/epoxy composites, the trends were consistent with each other. Ni nanowire/epoxy composites showed the sensing response on humidity and temperature. Self-sensing on applied tensile and compressive loading/unloading was also responded for Ni nanowire/silicone composites via electrical contact resistivity showing the opposite trend between tension and compression. It can be due to the different electrically-interconnecting mechanisms of dispersed Ni nanowires embedded in silicone matrix.

• Composites Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.21-26
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• 2005

Nondestructive damage sensing and load transfer mechanisms of carbon nanotube (CNT) and nanofiber (CNF)/epoxy composites have been investigated by using electro-micromechanical technique. The electrospun PVDF nanofibers were also prepared as a piezoelectric sensor. The electro-micromechanical techniques were applied to evaluate sensing response of carbon nanocomposites by measuring electrical resistance under an uniform cyclic loading. Composites with higher volume content of CNT showed significantly higher tensile properties than neat and low volume$\%$ CNT composites. CNT composites showed humidity sensing within limited temperature range. CNT composites with smaller aspect ratio showed higher apparent modulus due to high volume content in case of shorter aspect ratio. Thermal treated electrospun PVDF nanofiber showed higher mechanical properties than the untreated case due to crystallinity increase, whereas load sensing decreased in heat treated case. Electrospun PVDF nanofiber web also showed sensing effect on humidity and temperature as well as stress transferring. Nanocomposites and electrospun PVDF nanofiber web can be applicable for sensing application.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.13-20
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• 2005

Interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of environmentally friendly natural fiber reinforced polymer composites plays a very important role in controlling the overall mechanical performance. The IFSS of various Ramie and Kenaf fibers/epoxy composites was evaluated using the combination of micromechanical test and nondestructive acoustic emission (AE) to find out optimal conditions for desirable final performance. Dynamic contact angle was measured for Ramie and Kenaf fibers and correlated the wettability properties with interfacial adhesion. Mechanical properties of Ramie and Kenaf fibers were investigated using single-fiber tensile test and analyzed statistically by both uni-and bimodal Weibull distributions. An influence of clamping effect on a real elongation for both Ramie and Kenaf fibers were evaluated as well. Two different microfailure modes, axial debonding and fibril fracture coming from fiber bundles and single fiber composites (SFC) were observed under tension and compression.

• Composites Research
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.8-14
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• 2009

Interfacial evaluation of glass fiber reinforced carbon nanotube (CNT)-epoxy nanocomposite was investigated by micromechanical technique in combination with wettability test. The contact resistance of the CNT-epoxy nanocomposite was measured using a gradient specimen, containing electrical contacts with gradually-increasing spacing. The contact resistance of CNT-epoxy nanocomposites was evaluated by using the two-point method rather than the four-point method. Due to the presence of hydrophobic domains on the heterogeneous surface, the static contact angle of CNT-epoxy nanocomposite was about $120^{\circ}$, which was rather lower than that for super-hydrophobicity. For surface treated-glass fibers, the tensile strength decreased dramatically, whereas the tensile modulus exhibited little change despite the presence of flaws on the etched fiber surface. The interfacial shear strength (IFSS) between the etched glass fiber and the CNT-epoxy nanocomposites increased due to the enhanced surface energy and roughness. As the thermodynamic work of adhesion, $W_a$ increased, both the mechanical IFSS and the apparent modulus increased, which indicated the consistency with each other.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.411-422
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• 2010

Self-sensing on micro-failure, dispersion degree and relating properties, of carbon nanotube(CNT)/epoxy composites, were investigated using wettability, electro-micromechanical technique with acoustic emission(AE). Specimens were prepared from neat epoxy as well as composites with untreated and acid-treated CNT. Degree of dispersion was evaluated comparatively by measuring volumetric electrical resistivity and its standard deviation. Apparent modulus containing the stress transfer was higher for acid-treated CNT composite than for the untreated case. Applied cyclic loading responded well for a single carbon fiber/CNT-epoxy composite by the change in contact resistivity. The interfacial shear strength between a single carbon fiber and CNT-epoxy, determined in a fiber pullout test, was lower than that between a single carbon fiber and neat epoxy. Regarding on micro-damage sensing using electrical resistivity measurement with AE, the stepwise increment in electrical resistivity was observed for a single carbon fiber/CNT -epoxy composite. On the other hand, electrical resistivity increased infinitely right after the first carbon fiber breaks for a single carbon fiber/neat epoxy composite. The occurrence of AE events of added CNT composites was much higher than the neat epoxy case, due to micro failure at the interfaces by added CNTs.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.285-290
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• 2004

Nondestructive damage sensitivity of carbon nanotube(CNT) and nanofiber (CNF)/epoxy composites with their adding contents was investigated using electro-micromechanical technique. Carbon black (CB) was used only for the comparison with CNT and CNF. The fracture of carbon fiber was detected by acoustic emission (AE), which was correlated to the change in electrical resistance, ΔR under double-matrix composites (DMC) test. Stress sensing on carbon nanocomposites was performed by electro-pullout test under uniform cyclic loading. At the same volume fraction, the damage sensitivity for fiber fracture, matrix deformation and stress sensing were highest for CNT/epoxy composite, whereas for CB/epoxy composite they were the lowest among three carbon nanomaterials (CNMs). Damage sensitivity was correlated with morphological observation of carbon nanocomposites. Homogeneous dispersion among CNMs could be keying parameters for better damage monitoring. In this study, damage sensing of carbon nanocomposites could be evaluated well nondestructively by the electrical resistance measurement with AE.

• Composites Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.22-27
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• 2015

Although it is important to have high strength of each of fiber and matrix, interface between fiber and matrix is most important. If NaCl water penetrates the interface, that area will be weak. So experiment about increasing interfacial strength is in process. In this study, the change of properties by mechanical, interfacial and micromechanical tests was observed after NaCl and aging treatment. The changes in mechanical properties of glass fiber were investigated using single-fiber tensile test. Interfacial properties between glass fiber and epoxy resin were evaluated using nondestructive acoustic emission (AE) and micromechanical test applied to fatigue test. Through change of fatigue properties, relative interfacial properties were evaluate. In conclusion, glass fiber diameter decreased and the reduction of mechanical and interfacial was observed with NaCl solution and aging treatment.

• Composites Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.61-67
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• 2004

Nondestructive damage sensitivity on single-basalt fiber/epoxy composites was evaluated by micromechanical technique and acoustic emission (AE). Piezoelectric lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) copolymer were used as AE sensor, respectively. In single-fiber composite, the damage sensing with different sensor types were compared to each other. Piezoelectric PVDF polymer sensor was embedded in and attached on the composite, whereas PZT sensor was only attached on the surface of specimen. In case of embedded polymer sensors, responding sensitivity was higher than that of the attached case. It can be due to full constraint inside specimen to transfer elastic wave coming from micro-deformation. For both the attached and the embedded cases, the sensitivity of P(VDF-TrFE) sensor was almost same as that of conventional PVDF sensor.