Single ber pullout experiments were conducted to determine the adhesion quality, debond behavior and subsequent matrix fracture behavior for a variety of end-modi ed copper bers. The matrices were: two different epoxy resins, polyester and polyurethane; the end-modi ed copper bers were: straight, at end-impacted, at end-impacted with release agent applied and straight end-oxidized. The goal was to determine how the bonding and debonding behavior as well as the pullout behavior of the various ber-matrix combinations affected the composite fracture toughness increment (1G). Results indicate that the greatest improvement in the calculated 1G occurred with a ber-matrix combination that had a moderate interface bond strength with an interfacial bond failure, minor matrix damage during ber pullout and moderate post-debond interface friction. Selective oxidation of the ber end was performed to determine if chemical anchoring of the ber end could be as effective as mechanical (end-shaping) anchoring of the ber into the matrix. Improvement in the adhesion bond strength as a result of the chemical anchoring resulted in a signi cantly lower 1G compared to the end-impacted bers because interfacial failure was not possible. This indicates that for the materials tested, mechanical anchoring of the ber was better than chemical anchoring in improving 1G. To decrease the adhesion bond strength and allow the bers to debond, a release agent was applied to the at end-impacted ber prior to embedment into the matrix. This resulted in a signi cantly lower 1G compared to straight and at end-impacted bers for all matrices tested, because the resulting debonding force and friction were signi cantly reduced. Pullout curves showed that with release agent applied, the end-shape did not effectively anchor the ber into the matrix. The reduction in the pullout work indicates that the friction at the ber-matrix interface plays a crucial role in actively anchoring the end-shaped ber into the matrix after debonding.