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Characterization of a polyimide matrix for fiber composites

Journal Article · · SAMPE Q.; (United States)
OSTI ID:7366398

The properties of the uncured and cured polyimide resin Hexcel Products, Inc. F-178 were determined. The uncured resin, a gummy paste, is a mixture of several components, containing imide groups, olefin groups, and free amine groups. There is very little variation in the resin from batch to batch and, if properly stored, it is chemically stable over time. The cast resin, cured for 1 h at 130/sup 0/C, 1 h at 180/sup 0/C, and 24h at 232/sup 0/C, has a tensile strength of 51.8 MPa (modulus, 4143 MPa) at room temperature, decreasing to a fourth of the room temperature value at 180/sup 0/C. The cured resin has a flexural strength of 111 MPa (modulus, 3820 MPa) at room temperature and 30.8 MPa (modulus, 1740 MPa) at 232/sup 0/C. Aging by heat and aircraft fluids causes little change in flexural strength, but exposure to water reduces the high temperature flexural strength by 76 percent. Since the resin was formulated especially for use at high temperature as a matrix material in fiber composites, further work is recommended to correlate neat resin behavior with composite behavior. (auth)

Research Organization:
Univ. of California, Livermore
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
7366398
Journal Information:
SAMPE Q.; (United States), Journal Name: SAMPE Q.; (United States) Vol. 7:2; ISSN SAMQA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English