Room-temperature aging of Narmco 5208 carbon-epoxy prepreg. II - Physical, mechanical, and nondestructive characterization

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · Polymer Composites; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/pc.750120311· OSTI ID:5238019

Cole, K C; Noel, D; Hechler, J -J; Cielo, P; Krapez, J -C ^[1]

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1. National Research Council of Canada, Industrial Materials Institute, Boucherville (Canada)

Samples of Narmco Rigidite 5208/WC3000 carbon-epoxy composite prepreg were exposed to ambient temperature and 50 percent relative humidity for different periods up to 66 days. The aging has a significant effect on prepreg physical properties such as tack, volatiles content, and gel time. A set of four-ply laminates made from aged prepreg was subjected to tensile testing, ultrasonic inspection, and optothermal inspection. No relationship could be discerned between laminate properties and prepreg aging time. However, variations in panel homogeneity were observed, and these correlated with thermal diffusivity and tensile modulus measurements, but not with ultimate tensile strength or elongation. A set of six-ply laminates was used to measure compressive properties, interlaminar shear strength, and physical properties. These panels also showed variations in porosity, again unrelated to aging, but in addition, the fiber-resin ratio was observed to decrease with aging time. Both factors were found to affect mechanical properties. The implications concerning the importance of monitoring the aging by physicochemical methods are discussed. 30 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5238019
• Journal Information: Polymer Composites; (United States), Vol. 12; ISSN 0272-8397
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CARBON FIBERS
AGING
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
EPOXIDES
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
POROSITY
SHEAR PROPERTIES
TENSILE PROPERTIES
THERMAL DIFFUSIVITY
ULTRASONIC TESTING
ACOUSTIC TESTING
FIBERS
MATERIALS
MATERIALS TESTING
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
TESTING
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
360603* - Materials- Properties