ABSTRACT

In general, polymers have low stiffness and strength in comparison with other materials, e.g., metals and ceramics, and consequently these materials present serious difficulties in structural applications. To improve their mechanical properties, polymers are reinforced by the addition of rigid particles or fibers to form composite materials (l). Thus, polymer matrix composite materials are made up of a low modulus phase, the polymer matrix, and a high modulus phase, the reinforcement, which is usually carbon or glass. The modulus of the composite is higher than that of the polymer matrix, and the increment is proportional to the volume fraction of the reinforcement. In general, the properties of the composite depend not

only on the properties of the components and their relative proportions, but also on the shape, size, and distribution of the reinforcement and the degree of adhesion between the phases.