Misumi, JunGanesh, RajaSockalingam, SubramaniGillespie, John W. Jr.2018-06-012018-06-01Copyright2016Misumi, Jun, et al. "Experimental characterization of tensile properties of epoxy resin by using micro-fiber specimens." Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites 35.24 (2016): 1792-1801.0731-6844 ; e- 1530-7964http://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/23550Author's final draft after peer reviewIn unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) laminates, the distance between fibers can vary from submicron to micron length scales. The mechanical properties of the matrix at this length scale are not well understood. In this study, processing methods have been developed to produce high quality epoxy micro-fibers with diameters ranging from 100 to 150 um that are used for tensile testing. Five types of epoxy resin systems ranging from standard DGEBA to high-crosslink TGDDM and TGMAP epoxy systems have been characterized. Epoxy macroscopic specimens with film thickness of 3300 um exhibited brittle behavior (1.7 to 4.9% average failure strain) with DGEBA resin having the highest failure strain level. The epoxy micro-fiber specimens exhibited significant ductile behavior (20 to 42% average failure strain) with a distinct yield point being observed in all five resin systems. In addition, the ultimate stress of the highly cross-linked TGDDM epoxy fiber exceeded the bulk film properties by a factor of two and the energy absorption was over 50 times greater on average. The mechanism explaining the dramatic difference in properties are discussed and is based on size effects (the film volume is about 2000 times greater than the fiber volume within the gage sections) and surface defects. Based on the findings 3 presented in this paper, the microscale fiber test specimens are recommended and provide more realistic stress-strain response for describing the role of the matrix in composites at smaller length scales.en-USManuscript is made available in accordance with the University of Delaware Faculty Policy on Open Access and the publisher's policy and the publisher's policy.ArticleDOI: 10.1177/0731684416669248