Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) for Carbon Fiber and Glass Fiber Epoxy Composites and their Constituents

Technical Report · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 2023

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/2430303· OSTI ID:2430303

Hakes Weston-Dawkes, Raquel Sara Pilar ^[1]; Houchens, Brent C. ^[2]; Scott, Sarah Nicole ^[1]

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1. Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)
2. Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

In this work, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed on samples of a carbon fiber epoxy composite, a glass fiber epoxy composite, and a mixed carbon fiber/glass fiber epoxy composite, as well on each constituent material (polymer epoxy, carbon fibers and glass fibers). TGA was conducted for heating rates from 1-20 C/min with purified purge gases of nitrogen and dry air. For the fiberglass composite, we find that ~70% of the material remains after heating in air to 1200 C. For the carbon fiber epoxy composite, we observe greater mass loss as the carbon fibers can oxidize, leaving little material by the end of the test. The mixed composite, which has a 2:1 ratio of glass fibers to carbon fibers, experienced a total mass loss between the two other composites. By determining the relationship between the thermal decomposition of a composite material and its constituent materials, we can predict the fire behavior of novel composites during the material design phase.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Programs (DP)
• DOE Contract Number: NA0003525
• OSTI ID: 2430303
• Report Number(s): SAND--2023-09532
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE