ABSTRACT
Carbon fibre reinforced composite materials have become familiar as structural materials, especially for weight-critical aeroplane parts, using their high strength, high modulus and light weight. Thermosetting resins such as epoxy resins have been used for the matrix resins of composites rather than thermoplastic resins, due to their better processability in prepregs, their tackiness and drapability. However, the low fracture toughness (compressive strength after impact energy (CAI)) of thermoset resin matrix composites compared with metals is one of the factors which limits their application as primary structural materials. Therefore, improvement of fracture toughness has been a hot topic of the composites industry.
