ABSTRACT
Composite materials offer unique characteristics in properties and can be utilized efficiently in structural applications. The properties offered by composites are, in turn, determined by the constituent materials (i.e., the fiber and the matrix and in many instances, by the fiber-matrix “interface.” The term interface is defined as a twodimensional region between the fiber and matrix having zero thickness (Figure 20.1). The properties of the interface are intermediate between those of fiber and matrix. Matrix molecules can be anchored to the fiber surface by chemical reaction or adsorption, which determine the strength of interfacial adhesion. In certain cases, the interface may be composed of additional constituent as a bonding agent or as an interlayer between the two components of the composite.
