FT-IR microspectroscopic investigation of the interphase of epoxy resin-glass fiber-reinforced composites

Glass fiber-epoxy with composites were analyzed with the use of FT-IR microspectroscopy. With the use of spectral subtraction along with two-dimensional mapping experiments, spectral features characteristic of the interfacial region were revealed. Different types of glass fibers were used in order to observe spectral differences at the interphase. When as-received and heat-cleaned glass fibers were used, certain similarities were observed, although an inhibition of the curing seems to be taking place at the interfacial region of epoxy-heat-cleaned glass fibers. When the glass fibers were treated with an aminosilane coupling agent (gamma-APS), there was spectral evidence that the glass surface was modifying the epoxy-glass fiber interphase.