Simultaneous binding and ex situ toughening concept for textile reinforced pCBT composites: Influence of preforming binders on interlaminar fracture properties

A new concept consisting of binding and ex situ toughening is proposed for manufacturing and toughening of textile reinforced pCBT composites. The present study assesses the influence of various preforming binders on interlaminar fracture properties. Interlaminar fracture toughness of textile reinforced pCBT composites was investigated under mode I and mode II deformation. A standard double cantilever beam (DCB) test and an end notched flexure (ENF) test based on a three-point bending test were applied to evaluate the interlaminar fracture toughness in mode I and mode II, respectively. The effect of binder type, filling content and preparation concept on fracture properties under the mentioned two deformation modes were discussed on the basis of morphology analysis of fracture sections with scanning electric microscopy. Flexural properties of the textile reinforced pCBT laminates prepared using the selected preforming binder were characterized for further verification of the performance of the proposed concept. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.