INFRARED SPECTRAL IMAGING OF THE INTERPHASE OF EPOXY-GLASS FIBER-REINFORCED COMPOSITES UNDER WET CONDITIONS

Infrared imaging was utilized to analyze the behavior of epoxy-glass f iber composites when exposed to moist conditions. With the nse of mapp ing subtraction, the differences In the water uptake were revealed whe n different types of glass fibers were used. Composites prepared with as-received glass fibers exhibit the highest water uptake at the inter phase as opposed to those prepared with silane-treated glass fibers, w hich exhibit the lowest uptake. Moreover, the epoxide deformation band was examined in order to analyze the effect of water on the caring of the composites. Water was found to catalyze a polymerization reaction at the interphase, but only if a certain level of water concentration is present is the above phenomenon detectable.