ISSN: 0884-6804
Page Count: 8

Effect of Temperature and Moisture on the Impact Behavior of Graphite/Epoxy Composites: Part I—Impact Energy Absorption
Runt, JP
Professor, The Pennsylvania State University, PA

Strait, LH
Research associates, Applied Research Laboratory, PA

Amateau, MF
Professor, The Pennsylvania State University, PA

Karasek, ML
Research associates, Applied Research Laboratory, PA

Abstract

Dropped weight impact testing has been used to evaluate the influence of temperature and moisture on the impact resistance of unmodified and modified epoxy/graphite fiber composites. At ambient and low temperatures, moisture was found to have little effect on damage initiation energy or subsequent energy absorption. At elevated temperature, the presence of moisture has a significant effect on damage initiation energy, with the change depending on the particular energy adsorption characteristics of the matrix and the ‘wet’ epoxy phase glass transition temperature. The energy required to initiate damage was found to decrease with temperature, and this is consistent with a reduction in matrix properties at elevated temperatures.

Keywords:
polymer composite, environmental effects, dropped weight impact, seawater exposure, impact resistance

Paper ID: CTR10508J
DOI: 10.1520/CTR10508J
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