Glass fiber reinforced ROMP-based bio-renewable polymers: Enhancement of the interface with silane coupling agents

In this study, the influence of silane coupling agents on interfacial adhesion in glass fiber reinforced polymers from the ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of a linseed oil-based monomer and dicyclopentadiene is investigated experimentally. Two types of silane coupling agents, norbornenylethyldimethylchlorosilane (MCS) and norbornenylethyltrichlorosilane (TCS), are examined. Interfacial shear strength (IFSS) is evaluated by the microbond technique. The IFSS increases by about 150% for the MCS-treated fibers and by about 50% for the TCS-treated fibers compared to untreated fibers. Dynamic mechanical analysis of composite panels made with untreated and silane-treated fibers reveals that MCS-treated fiber composites have the highest storage modulus and glass transition temperature, indicating strong interfacial interactions at the glass/matrix interface. Short beam shear tests and scanning electron microscopy of fracture surfaces also confirm that MCS is more effective than TCS at improving interfacial adhesion. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.