Glass fiber-reinforced polymer composites of high compressive strength

Glass-reinforced composites with high compressive strength were prepared using two different epoxy resins and various curing agents such as matrix and S-glass fibers (S-GF) as glass reinforcement. The mechanical properties of various composites were examined and the free volumes were also investigated by the Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy measurements (PALS). Results for tensile, compression, bending, impact, hardness, distortion temperature, glass transition temperature and their association with free volume were reported for the composites, with the matrix of high material density and low free volume displaying distinct superior mechanical properties. The curing agents also have a significant effect on the compressive strength of composites, with the composite TDE-85/MPD/S-GF consistently showing the highest compression resistance.