Fiber Coatings Derived from Molecular Precursors

Abstract

It is generally agreed that the mechanical performance of continuous fiber-reinforced composites will depend to a large extent on the nature of the interface between the fiber and the matrix. In the case of many inorganic composites, compositional and/or morphological gradients can arise over an extended region between the matrix and reinforcing fiber as a result of processing conditions, mechanical forces, or chemical interactions. The term “interphase” has been applied to such a region.There have been numerous theoretical and experimental treatments of this subject in an effort to quantify the stress and strain in the interphase region, and to correlate the presence of such forces with the mechanical performance of the attendant composites. Much of the experimental work has emphasized controlling the nature of the interphase through careful control of the processing conditions or by the introduction of special interface layers, often by applying a coating to the reinforcing fiber prior to incorporating it into the matrix.