CROSS-LINKING OF VINYL ESTER MATRIX IN CONTACT WITH DIFFERENT SURFACES

This study deals with the physical and chemical analysis of interfaces and interphases in glass/vinyl ester resin systems. The surface of th e difference composite components was first analysed by wettability te chniques. Matrix was then deposited on different unsized and sized gla ss substrates, and structural modification of the matrix near the surf ace of these substrates was studied by means of microscopical Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy and solid-state C-13 nuclear magnetic resonance. Both techniques clearly showed that the resin network is s trongly affected in all cases, leading to the existence of thick inter phases. The different phenomena that could be responsible for the exis tence of such interphases are discussed.