The effect of carbon fiber type on the electrochemical degradation of carbon fiber polymer composites
- Univ. of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI (United States). Corrosion Lab.
- Army Research Lab., Watertown, MA (United States). Composites Development Branch
The galvanic interaction between metals and carbon fiber/polymer matrix composite degrades not only the metals but the composite itself. The objective of this study was to investigate if the fiber type influenced either the mechanism or form of damage. Three different composites were examined. All have same epoxy matrix, 3501-6 epoxy, but contain different carbon fibers, AS4, IM6 and IM7. The surfaces of the composite materials were exposed to 0.5 N NaCl solution to simulate sea water at open circuit condition or cathodic potentials to simulate galvanic coupling of metals. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was employed to monitor changes in the behavior of the composites. Modeling of experimental data indicated that the parameter, Rp, representing the polymer resistance decreased with increasing time of exposure for both open circuit conditions and applied cathodic potentials. The value of Rp also decreased with increasingly cathodic applied potentials. This suggested that a damage process for the polymer involving increased access of solution to the carbon fibers was operating. SEM examination showed the presence of cracks and polymer separations on the exposed but not on the unexposed surfaces. The fiber type did not appear to influence the damage mechanism in this study but did effect the rate of damage accumulation.
- OSTI ID:
- 109943
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950304-; TRN: IM9543%%244
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Corrosion `95: National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) international annual conference and corrosion show, Orlando, FL (United States), 26-31 Mar 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Corrosion/95 conference papers; PB: 5788 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Compressive strength of carbon fibers
Comparison of the performance of a carbon fiber composite material in distilled water and chloride solutions