Measuring fiber-matrix interfacial adhesion by means of a 'drag-out' micromechanical test

We have recently developed an experiment to measure the interfacial adhesion in nanotube-polymer composites by 'dragging-out' a single nanotube from a polymer matrix using an atomic force microscope tip. To quantify the data, an approximate analysis was used. Here, this 'drag-out' configuration is reproduced at a larger scale, namely, using a single flexible fiber (polyethylene) bridging a polymer (epoxy) hole. The data generated from this single fiber drag-out experiment was used as input in a new theoretical model that evaluates the interfacial shear adhesion at the fiber-matrix interface. Comparisons were made between the data generated from the single fiber drag-out and independent pull-out data produced in a classical microbond experiment with the same material system. The drag-out data compare fairly well with the microbond test data, and are found to be of the same order of magnitude as in the literature.