Epichlorohydrin modified poly ( p-phenylene terephthamide) ( PPTA-ECH ) and poly ( m-phenylene isophthalamide) (PMIA-ECH) were prepared and used as coating agents for PPTA fabric in PPTA fabric/epoxy resin composites. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM)
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)
and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the structure of PPTA-ECH coating on the surface of PPTA fibers. The interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and in-plane shear strength (ISS) of composites of PPTA-ECH and PMIA-ECH coated PPTA fabric/epoxy resins were investigated
which were compared with that of the pristine PPTA fabric/epoxy resin. The results showed that the coatings of PPTA-ECH and PMIA-ECH can significantly improve the interfacial properties of PPTA fabric with epoxy resins. The ILSS values of PPTA-ECH and PMIA-ECH coated PPTA fabric/epoxy resin composites were increased by 26. 20% and 14. 76%
and the ISS values of them were increased by 26. 98% and 11. 86%
respectively
compared with that of pristine PPTA fabric/epoxy resin. The reinforcement effects of PPTA-ECH on ILSS and ISS are better than those of PMIA-ECH due to the stronger affinity of the former for PPTA fiber. The spreading and adsorption of PPTA-ECH on the surface of PPTA fibers and its reinforcement mechanism for PPTA fabric/epoxy resin composite were discussed. Thus PPTA-ECH has great potential as new coating agent for the fabrication of PPTA materials.