Fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites

Experimental results are presented that show that high doses of electron radiation combined with thermal cycling can significantly change the mechanical and physical properties of graphite fiber-reinforced polymer-matrix composites. Polymeric materials examined have included 121 °C and 177°C cure epoxies, polyimide, amorphous thermoplastic, and semicrystalline thermoplastics. Composite panels fabricated and tested included four-ply unidirectional, four-ply [0,90, 90,0] and eight-ply quasi-isotropic [0/ 45/90]s. Test specimens with fiber orientations of [10] and [45] were cut from the unidirectional panels to determine shear properties. Mechanical and physical property tests were conducted at cold (-157°C), room (24°C) and elevated (121°C) temperatures. 

Fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites UD carbon fiber-epoxy matrix ... 

ASTM D 5528 (1994). Mode I interlaminar fracture toughness of unidirectional fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites. 

Figure 5.97 Plot of composite tensile strength versus fiber volume fraction for an aligned, short fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite. The dotted lines show the corresponding values for continuous fibers for comparison purposes. Reprinted, by permission, from N. G. McCrum, C. P. Buckley, and C. B. Bucknall, Principles of Polymer Engineering, 2nd ed., p. 281. Copyright 1997 by Oxford University Press.

A.2.4 Discontinuous-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer-Matrix Composites Sheet Molding Compound. Of the parameters influencing the mechanical properties in short-fiber-reinforced polymer-matrix composites, fiber composition, matrix composition, fiber geometry, and manufacturing method will be elaborated upon here. 

ASTM D 5528-94a. Standard test method for mode I interlaminar fracture toughness of unidirectional fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia. 

Li, S., Thouless, M.D., Waas, A.M., Schroeder, J.A., and Zavattieri, P.D. (2005) Use of a cohesive-zone model to analyze the fracture of a fiber-reinforced polymer-matrix composite. Composites Science and Technology, 65,... 

Liao K, Schultheisz C R, Hunston D L and Brinson C L (1998), Long-term durability of fiber-reinforced polymer-matrix composite materials for infrastructure applications a review . Journal of Advanced Materials, 40(4), 4-40. 

ASTM D 7291/D 7291M-07 (2007), Standard test method for through-thickness flatwise tensile strength and elastic modulus of a fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite material, ASTM, West Conshohocken, PA. 

Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) is a common chemical used as additive in casting solution for the preparation of polysulfone (PS) membranes by the phase inversion technique. PVP is also known to be an established thermoplastic sizing in composite technology. The effectiveness to use PVP as a sizing agent to promote adhesion between inoiganic substrate with polymer matrix has been extensively reported in fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite development. 

Figure 4.2 illustrates the fundamental concept of interface and interphase in a fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite material system, as proposed by Drzal in 1983 [26]. This schematic concept may also be appHed for a biocomposite system. Once a sizing or coating material is applied to the region between the fiber and the matrix, there exists an interphase, which may be referred as a third phase. Two interfaces can exist between the reinforcing fiber and the polymer matrix. One is a fiber-size interface and the other is a polymer-size interface. 

Standard Test Method for Mode I Interlaminar Fracture Toughness of Unidirectional Fiber-reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites Standard Test Method for Apparent Shear Strength of Parallel Fiber Composites by Short-Beam Method... 

A drop-weight impact test standard (ASTM D7136) has also been developed for fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites. The specimen is a flat rectangular composite plate 4.000 in. x 6.000 in. (100.0 mm x 150.0 mm). The laminate consists of a number of plies to achieve a total cured thickness nearest to 5.0 mm (0.20 in.) with a stacking sequence of [(+45/-45)/(0/90)] (see Composites, Chapter 8). A... 

Standard Test Method for Measuring the Damage Resistance of a Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composite to a Drop-Weight Impact Event, ASTM D7136/D7136M -07, American Society for Testing Materials, West Conshohocken, 2007. 

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