| abstract |
A reinforcing fiber and an adhesive composition, wherein the adhesive composition comprises at least a thermosetting resin, a curing agent and an interfacial material, the fiber being suitable for concentrating the interfacial material in the interfacial region between the fiber and the adhesive composition upon curing of the adhesive composition, Wherein the applied adhesive has a resin modulus of at least 4.0 GPa. There is also provided a prepreg comprising a fiber reinforced polymer composition, and a method of making a composite article by curing the reinforced polymer composition. The resulting interfacial area, i.e., the enhanced counterface, is enhanced by one or more layers of interfacial material so that substantial improvement in tensile, compressive and fracture toughness can be observed. |