Viscoelastically prestressed polymeric matrix composites – Effects of temperature on Charpy impact behaviour

Qin, Yang; Fancey, Kevin S.

Abstract

© 2017 Elsevier Ltd By applying tensile creep to polymeric fibres, a viscoelastically prestressed polymeric matrix composite (VPPMC) can be produced by removing the creep load before the fibres are moulded into a resin matrix. The viscoelastically strained fibres impart compressive stresses to the surrounding matrix, following curing. Previous work has demonstrated that nylon 6,6 fibre-polyester resin VPPMCs can improve mechanical properties by up to ∼50%, compared with control (unstressed) counterparts. This paper focuses on the effect of temperature (from −25°C to 45°C) on these composites, under Charpy impact conditions. It was found that impact energy absorption by the VPPMC samples was greater than their control counterparts over the full temperature range, the increases being ∼40% at 20°C and above, reducing to ∼20% at lower temperatures. The principal mechanism for energy absorption from the VPPMC samples was fibre-matrix debonding. At lower temperatures however, resin impact toughness decreased, which facilitated energy absorption through matrix cracking. Here, as VPPMC prestress impeded this effect, energy absorption through matrix cracking was more prominent within the control samples and this is believed to be a major contribution to the observed reduction in VPPMC performance relative to control samples at lower temperatures.

Citation

Qin, Y., & Fancey, K. S. (2018). Viscoelastically prestressed polymeric matrix composites – Effects of temperature on Charpy impact behaviour. Composites. Part B, Engineering, 141, 265-270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2017.12.036

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 18, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Dec 21, 2017
• Publication Date: May 15, 2018
• Deposit Date: Mar 19, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 22, 2018
• Journal: Composites Part B ?
• Print ISSN: 1359-8368
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 141
• Pages: 265-270
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2017.12.036
• Keywords: A Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs); B Impact behaviour; B Debonding; Viscoelasticity
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/588535
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S135983681732615X?via%3Dihub
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Viscoelastically prestressed polymeric matrix composites – Effects of temperature on Charpy impact behaviour; Journal Title: Composites Part B: Engineering; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2017.12.036; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.