Abstract
Composite materials possess a high strength-to-weight ratio. A key determinant of their mechanical performance is the interfacial strength between the fibers and the matrix. Sizing agents are commonly used to improve this interface by promoting better adhesion, though optimizing this interaction remains a significant challenge. This study evaluates the use of poly(catechol-styrene) (PCS), a mussel-inspired sizing agent, to enhance fiber–matrix bonding in carbon fiber composites. Woven carbon fiber laminates were dip-coated with varying concentrations of PCS (0.05 and 0.1 wt%) and subsequently fabricated using vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding followed by compression molding. Interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) tests showed improvements of 4% and 8% for the 0.05% and 0.1% PCS treatments, respectively. These results indicate that PCS is effective in reinforcing interfacial adhesion, thereby improving the mechanical integrity of carbon fiber-reinforced composites.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Polymer Composites |
| DOIs | |
| State | Accepted/In press - 2025 |
Funding
This work was supported by the Mussel Polymers Inc. and the National Science Foundation. Funding: The authors would like to acknowledge Mussel Polymers Inc., 116 Research Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA, for their financial support of this work. The authors also thank the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, for providing the necessary facilities and equipment. Additionally, the authors are grateful to the Industry–University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) under grant number NSF‐2052738 for their technical assistance and resources.
Keywords
- carbon fiber composites
- interfacial strength
- interlaminar strength
- mussel polymer
- poly(catechol-styrene) polymer
- sizing agent