SEDL / STP / STP813-EB / STP31824S

Thermal Aging of Graphite/Polyimide Composites

Nelson, JB
Materials engineer, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA

Pages: 16    Published: Jan 1983

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Abstract

Celion® 6000/PMR-15, Celion 6000/LARC-160, and Celion 6000/RK-99 graphite/polyimides were aged in circulating air ovens at temperatures of 202, 232, 260, and 288°C for various times up to 15 000 h. Three unidirectional specimens were studied: short-beam-shear (SBS), flexure, and 153-mm square panels. The interior region of the square panels exhibited little or no property degradation. Based on the individually aged SBS specimen results, the relative thermal-oxidative stability from highest to lowest is as follows: PMR-15, LARC-160, RK-99. Celion 6000/PMR-15 and Celion 6000/LARC-160 laminates retained at least 80% of their initial flexural strengths for the duration of aging at each temperature. Celion 6000/RK-99 laminates exhibited a 20 to 50% loss of flexural strength at all aging temperatures. All three graphite/polyimide (Gr/PI) laminate materials degraded preferentially at the specimen edge perpendicular to the fibers.