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U.S. Department of Energy
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Radiation effects on the dynamic mechanical properties of epoxy resins and graphite fiber/epoxy composites

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:6997857
The epoxy resin system formed by tetraglycidyl 4,4'-diamino diphenyl methane (TGDDM) and 4,4'-diamino diphenyl sulfone (DDS) was characterized by dynamic mechanical analysis (Rheovibron/Autovibron) and differential scanning calorimetry. Dynamic mechanical properties of graphite/fiber epoxy composite specimens formulated with two different adhesive systems (NARMCO 5208, NARMCO 5209) were determined. The specimens, epoxy and composite, were exposed to varying dose levels of ionizing radiation (0.5 MeV electrons) with a maximum absorbed dose of 10,0000 Mrads. Following irradiation, property measurements were made to assess the influence of radiation of the epoxy and composite specimens. The results established that ionizing radiation has a limited effect on the properties of the epoxy and composite systems. The most notable deleterious property change was a decrease of 30/sup 0/C to 40/sup 0/C in the glass transition temperature for the epoxy resins and NARMCO 5208 based composites after an absorbed dose of 10,0000 Mrads. The glass transition temperature for the NARMCO-5209 based composites decreased by 20/sup 0/C. Sorption/desorption studies revealed that plasticization of the network was responsible for a portion of the decrease in glass transition temperature.
Research Organization:
North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh (USA)
OSTI ID:
6997857
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English