Coated fibre composites using rubbery and ductile fibre/matrix interlayers

Advanced composite materials possessing high specific stiffness and strength have been successfully employed as structural materials in the aerospace, military and automotive industries. Despite the advantages that composites have over other materials, further development has been restricted by their brittleness. The aim of this research project was to improve the energy absorbing capabilities of unidirectional glass fibre epoxy resin composites by coating the fibres with an interlayer. UHMWPE was used as the interlayer because of its outstanding toughness while EPDM of low modulus was used to assess the difference between energy absorption through plastic deformations (UHMWPE) and highly elastic deformations (EPDM). [Continues.]