The elevated-temperature dependence of fracture energy mechanisms of hybrid carbon-glass fibre reinforced composites

The fracture energy of a model hybrid carbon-glass-epoxy resin composite system has been evaluated at room temperature and three elevated temperatures. Values of the work of fracture increased with temperature and glass fibre content with an especially dramatic increase for the high temperature-high glass fibre content specimens. Evaluation of existing microstructural fracture energy mechanisms of fibre debonding, post-debond sliding and fibre pull-out were successful in quantitatively accounting for the work of fracture at room temperature. For the elevated-temperature tests of glass fibres in epoxy resin, it was shown that extensive frictional energy of the nature of the post-debond sliding mechanism is also dissipated after fibre failure.