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Title: The effect of thermal processing on residual strain development in unidirectional graphite fibre reinforced PEEK

Journal Article · · Journal of Composite Materials; (United States)
;  [1]
  1. Toronto Univ., Downsview (Canada)

The effect of annealing on residual strain development in amorphous graphite fiber reinforced PEEK (APC-2) is studied experimentally. A method is presented for embedding strain gauges in a unidirectional laminate at the time of manufacture and then quenching the laminate into the amorphous state. With this method, thermal and crystallization strains are measured directly during quasi-isothermal heating of the laminate. Both longitudinal and transverse lamina strains resulting from contraction during crystallization are measured. Longitudinal cyrstallization strains are found to be negligible due to fiber stiffness. Transverse contraction due to crystallization is large and increases with anneal temperature. A coefficient of crystalline expansion is defined which is analogous to the CTE. This coefficient describes the permanent crystallization strain as a function of anneal temperature and is determined experimentally. 26 refs.

OSTI ID:
6468591
Journal Information:
Journal of Composite Materials; (United States), Vol. 27:1; ISSN 0021-9983
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English