ANALYSIS OF COMPOSITE TEST METHODS USING RAMAN-SPECTROSCOPY

The three main test methods that are generally used for the analysis of micromechanics in polymer-based composites systems are the fragmentation, pullout and microbond tests. Although the techniques are used widely, there are problems with their interpretation, particularly in the determination of the interfacial shear stress. This present paper is concerned with both the use to the test methods to analyse the micromechanics for carbon-fibre/epoxy composites and the application of Raman spectroscopy to determine the variation of fibre strain with position along a carbon fibre in a resin. It is demonstrated how this technique has the capability of revolutionising our interpretation of composite micromechanics and the different micromechanical test methods. In particular it is shown that the technique can be used to distinguish between elastic deformation, interfacial debonding and shear yielding of the matrix at the interface.