Characterization by Raman microspectrometry of residual compressive stresses induced by resin curing in single filament composite samples

The present work concerns monofilament composite samples used in the pull-out test to quantify the effect of different fibre surface treatments on the adhesion of a high modulus polyethylene in a polyester resin. Optical observations revealed local deformations induced by a compressive stress generated in the fibre by the resin shrinkage during the curing. The sensitivity of the polyethylene Raman peak at 1130 cm⁻¹ to elastic strain has been used to characterize the local compression state still present in the fibre after the curing. The results show residual stresses varying along the fibre embedded length up to a level depending on the applied surface treatment i.e. on the degree of adhesion between the fibre and the resin. This is consistent with the localization and the morphologies of shear bands observed in the samples. More the Raman microspectrometry has been used to determine the tensile stress profile along the embedded part of the fibre when its free part is stretched. Corrected of the initial compression state this profile represents the stress transfer effectively realized from the fibre to the resin for different adhesion conditions. Its knowledge is very useful to clarify the interface damage and pull-out mechanisms.