Proceedings of an international conference held at the University of Sheffield, UK. Sept. 5-7, 1989. Papers address topics relevant to the assessment of fiber-matrix adhesion; micromechanics of adhesion testing; interfaces in carbon fiber composites; interfaces in polymer matrix composites, metal matrix composites; and ceramic matrix composites. No subject index. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Interfacial Phenomena in Composite Materials '91 is a collection of papers dealing with the science of composite interfaces, with emphasis on theoretical modeling, test methods, and characterization methods of polymer matrix, metal, or ceramic matrix composites. One paper reviews the micromechanical test methods used in evaluating mechanical properties of fiber-matrix interface. Another paper shows that the critical fiber length cannot always be considered a material constant in the framework of load transfer models based on the shear lag theory. Microwave plasma treatment is a quick technology to change fiber surface structure as the oxidation or the roughening of the fiber increases fiber-matrix adhesion. Another paper evaluates the effect of improved adhesion on mechanical performance under static, dynamic, and impact conditions. It also examines the role of fiber anisotropy on the performance of high performance polyethylene/epoxy composites. By using the Laser Raman Spectroscopy, the investigator can analyze the effects of the fiber surface treatment, the fiber modulus, the curing temperature on the Shear strength, and the fracture mechanics of the interface. The collection can be read profitably by chemists, biochemists, and academicians involved in material compound research.

New technologies demand new materials. Polymer composites, with their wide range of possible fillers and polymers, open the way to an enormous range of materials with differing chemical, physical, and mechanical properties. The ultimate goal of polymer composite research is to formulate procedures that will lead to the design of composites with preset, i.e. specified, properties. Based on many years' experience in the field, the authors prepare the way towards just such a design procedure. The key element is the analysis and classification of the state of the filler-polymer interfaces from the point of view of their acid-base adsorption interactions. These interfacial phenomena play a pivotal role in determining overall properties of the composite: its rheological behaviour, its structural properties, catalytic effects in polymerization and polycondensation, and other technological characteristics. The book discusses and evaluates the extensive previous research scattered throughout the literature in Eastern Europe and the West, presents numerous experimental studies, and sets new benchmarks for the analysis of polymer composites. The book is required for researchers wanting to keep abreast of the progress in the burgeoning fields of polymer analysis and design.