| Abstract: | Phosphate glass fiber of the composition 20Na2O–24MgO–16CaO–40P2O5 was produced using an in-house fiber drawing rig. The interfacial properties of the phosphate glass fiber/poly(caprolactone) (PCL) system were measured using the single fiber fragmentation test (SFFT). The system was calibrated using E-glass fibers and polypropylene system. This gave an interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of 4.1 MPa, which agrees well with other published data. The IFSS for the unsized (as drawn) phosphate glass fiber/PCL system was found to be 1.75 MPa. Fibers treated with 3-aminopropyl-triethoxy silane (APS) showed an IFSS of 3.82 MPa. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) analysis of unsized and silane sized fibers established the presence of silane on the fiber surface. Degradation tests of the silane treated fiber/PCL samples were carried out in deionised water at 37°C and it was found that the IFSS values decreased over time. Four others silanes were also investigated but APS gave the highest IFSS values. |
