Thermal expansion of epoxy-fiberglass composite specimens

Conference · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Int. J. Thermophys.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5616241

McElroy, D L; Weaver, F J; Bridgman, C

The thermal expansion behavior of three epoxy-fiberglass composite specimens was measured from 20 to 120/degree/C (70 to 250/degree/F) using a fused quartz push-rod dilatometer. Billets produced by vacuum-impregnating layers of two types of fiberglass cloth with an epoxy were core-drilled to produce cylindrical specimens. These were used to study expansion perpendicular and parallel to the fiberglass layers. This type of composite is used to separate the copper conductors that form a helical coil in the Advanced Toroidal Facility, a plasma physics experiment operated by the Fusion Energy Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The coil is operated in a pulsed mode and expansion data were needed to assess cracking and joint stresses due to expansion of the copper-composite system. The dilatometer is held at a preselected temperature until steady state is indicated by stable length and temperature data. Before testing the composite specimens, a reliability check of the dilatometer was performed using a copper secondary standard. This indicated thermal expansion coefficient (/alpha/) values within /plus minus/2% of expected values from 20 to 200/degree/C. the percentage expansion of the composite specimen perpendicular to the fiberglass layers exceeded 0.8% at 120/degree/C, whereas that parallel to the fiberglass layers was about 0.16%. The expansion in the perpendicular direction was linear to about 70/degree/C, with an /alpha/ value of over 55 /times/ 10/sup /minus/6//degree/C/sup /minus/1/. Anomalous expansion behavior was noted above 70/degree/C. The expansion in the direction parallel to the fiberglass layers corresponds to an /alpha/ value of about 15 /times/ 10/sup /minus/6/C/sup /minus/1/. The lower /alpha/ values in the parallel direction are consistent with the restraining action of the fiberglass layers.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5616241
• Report Number(s): CONF-861258-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Int. J. Thermophys.; (United States) Journal Volume: 9:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360603* -- Materials-- Properties
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700202 -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Magnet Coils & Fields
ANISOTROPY
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
COPPER
CRACK PROPAGATION
DILATOMETRY
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL INSULATION
ELECTROMAGNETS
ELEMENTS
EPOXIDES
EQUIPMENT
EXPANSION
FIBERGLASS
FRACTURE PROPERTIES
IMPREGNATION
MAGNETS
MATERIALS
MATERIALS TESTING
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
METALS
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
STRESS ANALYSIS
STRESSES
SUPERCONDUCTING DEVICES
SUPERCONDUCTING MAGNETS
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
TESTING
THERMAL ANALYSIS
THERMAL EXPANSION
THERMAL STRESSES
THERMAL TESTING
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS