Self-Assembled Reinforced Interphase for Next-Generation Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

Fiber reinforced polymer composites are highly anisotropic and therefore, typically suffer trade-off properties among fiber-dominant, resin-dominant, and fracture toughness properties. Researchers at Toray Composites (America), Inc. have shown that by reinforcing an interfacial region between the fiber and the matrix with a nanomaterial, viz., a reinforced interphase, the shortcoming in strength has been resolved, and up to 100% strength of carbon fibers could be utilized effectively in the carbon fiber composite. In addition, as the strength is effectively controlled by the interphase, simultaneous improvements of other properties of the fiber composite could be made possible, allowing creations of game-changing fiber reinforced polymer composite systems. This paper summarizes critical requirements to create such an interphase and performances of such interphase in model carbon fiber composite systems.