Effects of aging process and testing temperature on the open-hole compressive properties of a carbon fiber composite

The properties of T800 carbon fiber–epoxy composite specimens with a hole were studied in terms of mass change, scanning electron microscopy, glass transition temperature ( T g), heat-resistant temperature, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, open-hole compressive strength at different temperatures, and stereomicroscopic observations after being subjected to hygrothermal aging and thermal-oxidative aging processes. FTIR spectra indicated that after hygrothermal aging at 70°C and 85% relative humidity (RH), chemical aging did not occur, whereas after thermal-oxidative aging at 190°C, the specimens exhibited chemical aging. The unaged specimens had a T g of 229°C and an extreme heat-resistant temperature T gmod of 184°C; after hygrothermal aging, the specimens had a T g and T gmod of 207°C and 143°C, respectively; and after thermal-oxidative aging, the specimens had a T g and T gmod of 252°C and 215°C, respectively. The effects of temperature on open-hole compressive strength were evaluated at room temperature of 23°C, 50°C, 100°C, 150°C, and 200°C. The compressive strengths of the specimens decreased after aging and with the increasing test temperature. At the highest test temperature, the unaged specimens, hygrothermal-aged, and thermal-oxidative-aged specimens retained over 73.7%, 65.5%, and 67.9%, respectively, of their compressive strength. Thus, the T800 carbon fiber–epoxy composite evaluated in this study exhibited good resistance to the effects of aging and high temperature. These results should be beneficial to the understanding of the long-term performance of composites.

Effects of thermal–oxidative aging on the mechanical properties of open-hole T800 carbon fiber/high-temperature epoxy composites

T800 carbon fiber/high-temperature epoxy resin composites with holes were subjected to thermal–oxidative aging, and the effects of different aging temperatures and times on the composite properties were investigated. The mass loss, surface topography, open-hole tensile performance, fracture morphologies, dynamic mechanical properties, and infrared spectra were analyzed. The results showed that chemical aging did not occur with thermal–oxidative aging at 70°C and 130°C. However, chemical aging occurred at 190°C. At 70°C, 130°C, and 190°C, all samples showed a slight increase followed by a slight decrease and stabilization in the open-hole tensile strength. The open-hole tensile strength was maximized after 240 h aging at different temperatures; the open-hole tensile strength after 1920 h aging exceeded that of the unaged samples. All composites experienced through-hole failure. With aging, the glass transition temperature ( T g) was gradually increased and then decreased. After 960 h aging at different temperatures, T g was maximized.

Effects of hygrothermal and thermal-oxidative ageing on the open-hole properties of T800/high-temperature epoxy resin composites with different hole shapes

T800/high-temperature epoxy resin composites with different hole shapes were subjected to hygrothermal ageing and thermal-oxidative ageing, and the effects of these different ageing methods on the open-hole properties of the composites were investigated, including analyses of the mass changes, surface topography changes (before and after ageing), fracture morphologies, open-hole compressive performance, dynamic mechanical properties and infrared spectrum. The results showed that only physical ageing occurred under hygrothermal ageing (70°C and 85% relative humidity), and the equilibrium moisture absorption rate was only approximately 0.72%. In contrast, under thermal-oxidative ageing at 190°C, both physical ageing and chemical ageing occurred. After ageing, the open-hole compressive strength of the composite laminates with different hole shapes decreased significantly, but the open-hole compressive strength after thermal-oxidative ageing was greater than that after hygrothermal ageing. Among the aged and unaged laminates, the laminates with round holes exhibited the largest open-hole compressive strength, followed by those with the elliptical holes, square holes and diamond holes. The failure modes of the laminates were all through-hole failures. The unaged samples had a glass transition temperature ( T g) of 226°C, whereas the T g of the samples after hygrothermal ageing was 208°C, which is 18°C less than that of the unaged samples, and the T g of the samples after thermal-oxidative ageing was 253°C, which is 27°C greater than that of the unaged samples.

High-performance polymer composites with enhanced mechanical and thermal properties from cyanate ester/benzoxazine resin and short Kevlar/glass hybrid fibers

The investigation and design of new polymeric materials with an astonishing combination of properties are nowadays of great importance to facilitate the manufacturing process of high-quality products intended to be utilized in different applications and technical fields. For this intent, novel high-performance blend composites composed of the cyanate ester/benzoxazine resin blend reinforced by different proportions of silane-surface modified Kevlar and glass fibers were successfully fabricated by a compression molding technique and characterized by different experimental tests. The mechanical test results revealed that the bending and impact strength properties were considerably improved when increasing the amount of the hybrid fibers. The studied materials also presented excellent thermal stabilities as compared to the unfilled blend’s properties. With respect to the properties of the reinforcing systems, these improvements seen in either the mechanical or thermal properties could be due to the good dispersion as well as excellent adhesion of the reinforcing fibers inside the resin matrix, which were further evidenced by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy results. Consequently, the improved mechanical and thermal properties promote the use of the fabricated hybrid composites in domestic and industrial applications requiring functional materials with advanced properties for aerospace and military applications.