Abstract
The failed surfaces of interlaminar fracture (mode I) specimens of AS4/3501-6 were examined using scanning electron microscopy. The principle fracture features were fibre pull-out (bundles and single fibres), hackle markings and regions of smooth resin fracture. Considerable (30 to 50%) relaxation of the deformed resin occurred when the specimens were heated above the matrix T g. This relaxation was taken as evidence of extensive shear yielding of the resin during the fracture process. Some of the fractography features are discussed in terms of transverse tensile stresses and peeling stresses acting on the fibres. In some instances these localized stresses focus failure close to the resin-fibre interface which can be mistakenly interpreted as interfacial failure and low fibre-resin adhesion.
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Bascom, W.D., Boll, D.J., Fuller, B. et al. Fractography of the interlaminar fracture of carbon-fibre epoxy composites. J Mater Sci 20, 3184–3190 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00545184
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00545184