Characterization of Critical Fundamental Aging Mechanisms of High Temperature Polymer Matrix Composites
Abstract
This program investigated durability and potential critical fundamental aging mechanisms of the high temperature polymer matrix carbon fiber composites, especially crosslinked bismaleimide(BMI) thermosets and thermoplastic polyimide(PI) for the future applications in commercial and military aircraft. The studies involved combined stress, temperature, thermal cycling or thermal spike, moisture, time and oxygen service environment exposure which could lead to complex synergistic environmental-induced degradation mechanisms of composite performance and their critical physical and chemical aging mechanisms in terms of damage initiation and propagation on the molecular, microscopic and macroscopic structural levels in order to develop structural-performance phase diagrams for mechanics model-structural design analyses and associated materials structural optimization at all dimensional levels. Extensive and systematic studies involved two fundamental aging mechanisms, namely (i) the characterization of cure of BMI<carbon fiber composites in service environment with associated microcracking and deterioration of composite mechanical properties and (ii) the effects of thermal-moisture-time environments on the matrix physical damage mechanisms, such as enhanced oxygen diffusion and, also, potential ice formation, in BMI and PI carbon fiber composites.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA379796
Entities
People
- Andre Lee
- E. E. Shin
- Lawrence T. Drzal
- Roger J. Morgan
Organizations
- Michigan State University