Abstract
The effect of molecular weight of matrix resin on mechanical properties of injection molded, short carbon fiber reinforced polycarbonate composites was studied. Tensile strength and flexural strength of the composite increased with the decrease in the molecular weight of the matrix resin. The interfacial shear strength and the fiber length in the composites were measured in order to investigate the strengthening mechanism of the composites. It was found that the improvement of mechanical properties in the case of low molecular weight of the matrix resin was caused by the restraint from shortening of the fiber length in the composite and the increase in the interfacial shear strength between fiber and matrix resin. Especially, the fiber length in the composite play a main role in the strengthening mechanism of the composite.
