Interphase Region in Composite Systems: Analysis, Characterisation and Influence on Long Term Behaviour

In a composite continuum we have at least two distinct continua with thermomechanical characteristics available on macroscopic scale. Generally one of the continua has an outer surface with some measurable surface characteristics. The second phase, due to the presence of the first one, cannot fully develop his bulk properties during the processing in the region close to the geometrical interface. This “constraint”, together with some surface changes of the first phase, results in the existence of a third phase, the transition region between the two original continua or interphase region.