Admicellar polymerization as a surface modification procedure to improve polymer-filler adhesion in composites

A new method for promoting the adhesion of thermosetting resins to a reinforcing filler was successfully demonstrated. Glass mats were coated with styrene-isoprene copolymers using a process termed admicellar polymerization. This fiber modification method improved mechanical strength in an epoxy composite fabricated with the modified glass that relative to the composite fabricated with the untreated mat. The level of improvement is almost equal to that found in the composite made from the commercially sized mat.