Manufacturing and Mechanical Properties of Epoxy Fibers Spinning using Anhydride and Amine Hardeners

Abstract

Commonly-used polymers are manufactured as versatile forms. Furthermore, continuous polymer fibers are recently manufactured using nylon or aramid fiber. One of common epoxy was also used to make polymer fibers. Bisphenol-A type was used as base epoxy whereas amine and anhydride were used as hardeners. Epoxy fibers was cured by stepping up the temperature to maintain the shape of epoxy fiber. Surface energy was measured to confirm the degree of interfacial adhesion by modified static contact angle method. After mechanical properties were measured via fiber tensile test, the evaluation of fiber fracture was proceeded. Tensile strength of epoxy fiber using amine type hardener was higher as 138 MPa than anhydride case as 70 MPa. Fractured surface exhibited different failure patterns at the cross-section.