Method of increasing the strength and fatigue resistance of fiber reinforced composites

摘要

A method of increasing the amount of entrained vapor in fiber-reinforced resin composite materials, and in particular filament wound composites, wherein a particularly effective chemical foaming or blowing agent is incorporated into the resin matrix composition used to form the composites. The foaming agent creates vapor-filled voids throughout the resin matrix of the composite as it cures. The superior composites containing these vapor-filled voids demonstrate high burst strength retention and excellent resistance to cyclic fatigue. The invention also relates to composite materials and articles thereof.