Interfacial micromechanics and effect of moisture on fluorinated epoxy carbon fiber composites

Abstract Carbon fiber composites have witnessed an increased application in aerospace and other civil structures due to their excellent structural properties such as specific strength and stiffness. However, unlike other structural materials, carbon fiber composites have not been as widely studied. Hence, their increased application is also accompanied with a serious concern about their long‐term durability. Many of these applications are exposed to multiple environments such as moisture, temperature, and UV radiation. Composites based on conventional epoxies readily absorb moisture. However, recently synthesized fluorinated epoxies show reduced moisture absorption and hence potentially better long‐term durability. The aim of this project is to study the effect of moisture absorption on fluorinated‐epoxy‐based carbon fiber composites and their comparison with conventional epoxy carbon fiber‐based composites. Microbond tests are performed on fluorinated and nonfluorinated epoxy‐based single fiber samples before and after boiling water degradation. It is found that fluorinated epoxy‐based single fiber coupons showed relatively reduced degradation of interface when compared with the nonfluorinated epoxy single fiber coupons. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers