Measuring fiber-matrix interfacial adhesion by means of a 'drag-out' micromechanical test 

 -  Composites: Part A, 36(1), p.33-37, 2005 .
<br/><br/> We have recently developed an experiment to measure the interfacial adhesion in nanotube-polymer composites by 'dragging-out' a single nanotube from a polymer matrix using an atomic force microscope tip. To quantify the data, an approximate analysis was used. Here, this 'drag-out' configuration is reproduced at a larger scale, namely, using a single flexible fiber (polyethylene)bridging a polymer (epoxy)hole. The data generated from this single fiber drag-out experiment was used as input in a new theoretical model that evaluates the interfacial shear adhesion at the fiber-matrix interface. Comparisons were made between the data generated from the single fiber drag-out and independent pull-out data produced in a classical microbond experiment with the same material system. The drag-out data compare fairly well with the microbond test data, and are found to be of the same order of magnitude as in the literature. 
<br/><br/><label>Subjects--Topical Terms: </label><br/>ADHESION<br/>INTERFACE/INTERPHASE<br/>MICRO-MECHANICS<br/>MECHANICAL TESTING<br/>DRAG-OUT TEST