Effects of chemical composition and thermal stability of finishes on the compatibility between glass fiber and high melting temperature thermoplastics

Abstract Experimental studies were made on the surface characteristics of glass fibers with two different finishes. The effects of the chemical composition and thermal stability of the finishes on the compatibility between glass fibers and high melting temperature thermoplastics were investigated. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) was used to characterize the composition of surface finishes and their thermal stability. The chemical composition of surface finishes was investigated using a combination of X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Time‐of‐Flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF SIMS). Static contact angle measurements were performed at room temperature to characterize the interfacial tension between the glass fibers and thermoplastics. The study provides a fundamental understanding on some important compatibility issues between thermoplastic resins and glass fiber related to composite fabrication and application.