TY - JOUR
T1 - Investigation of the long term effects of moisture on carbon fibre and epoxy matrix composites
AU - Zafar, A.
AU - Bertocco, Fabio
AU - Schjødt-Thomsen, J.
AU - Rauhe, Jens Christian M.
PY - 2012/3/27
Y1 - 2012/3/27
N2 - The aim of this work is to investigate the long term effects of moisture on the interface between a carbon fibre and an epoxy matrix. High modulus carbon fibres were used to prepare single fibre model composites based on an epoxy resin. The samples were immersed in the seawater and demineralised water and their moisture uptake behaviour was monitored. The equilibrium moisture content and diffusion coefficients for the samples were determined. DSC has been used to analyse the moisture effects on glass transition temperature and thermal stability of the pure epoxy specimens. These results showed a reduction in the glass transition temperature (T ) after moisture absorption. Tensile tests were also carried out for the epoxy specimens and a general decrease in the mechanical properties of the epoxy matrix was observed. Raman spectroscopy was used to observe the effects of moisture on the axial strain of the carbon fibre within the composite and stress transfer at the interface as a function of exposure time. The results show that the decrease in the mechanical and interfacial properties of the model composites under the seawater immersion is more significant than under demineralised water immersion.
AB - The aim of this work is to investigate the long term effects of moisture on the interface between a carbon fibre and an epoxy matrix. High modulus carbon fibres were used to prepare single fibre model composites based on an epoxy resin. The samples were immersed in the seawater and demineralised water and their moisture uptake behaviour was monitored. The equilibrium moisture content and diffusion coefficients for the samples were determined. DSC has been used to analyse the moisture effects on glass transition temperature and thermal stability of the pure epoxy specimens. These results showed a reduction in the glass transition temperature (T ) after moisture absorption. Tensile tests were also carried out for the epoxy specimens and a general decrease in the mechanical properties of the epoxy matrix was observed. Raman spectroscopy was used to observe the effects of moisture on the axial strain of the carbon fibre within the composite and stress transfer at the interface as a function of exposure time. The results show that the decrease in the mechanical and interfacial properties of the model composites under the seawater immersion is more significant than under demineralised water immersion.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.compscitech.2012.01.010
DO - 10.1016/j.compscitech.2012.01.010
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:84858285509
SN - 0266-3538
VL - 72
SP - 656
EP - 666
JO - Composites Science and Technology
JF - Composites Science and Technology
IS - 6
ER -