Effect of Curing Agent on the Compressive Behavior at Elevated Test Temperature of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Composites

Polymers (Basel). 2019 May 31;11(6):943. doi: 10.3390/polym11060943.

Abstract

The aim of the underlying research is to understand the effect of elevated test temperatures on the mechanical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced laminates based on three different hardeners. A high-temperature stable adhesive was developed for the end tabs of the specimen. Bifunctional bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (DGEBA) epoxy cured with triethylenetetramine (TETA), isophorone diamine (IPDA), and 4,4'-diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS) were cured and tested in a Celanese compressive test up to 250 °C. A model by Feih was applied, and sufficient accordance (R2 > 97%) with the compressive data was found. We showed that the network density and the chemical structure of the thermoset network influenced the compressive behavior.

Keywords: Celanese; carbon fiber; compression; elevated temperature; prepreg.