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Water absorption and low‐energy impact and their role in the failure of ±45° carbon fibre composites
Author(s) -
Korkees Feras,
Arnold Cris,
Alston Sue
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
polymer composites
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.577
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1548-0569
pISSN - 0272-8397
DOI - 10.1002/pc.24269
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , epoxy , absorption of water , flexural strength , stiffness , izod impact strength test , moisture , carbon fibers , composite number , ultimate tensile strength
Defects in polymer composites associated with in‐service damage induced by impact and those produced by environmental degradation due moisture absorption can have a significant influence on the mechanical properties and failure modes of the structures. This study evaluates the flexural characteristics and failure modes of ±45° carbon/epoxy laminates under different conditions. The flexural strength and stiffness of these composites were inspected before and after subjecting to water absorption, drying, re‐drying and low energy impact. It was observed that both absorbed water and low energy impact caused significant deformations and fractures which drastically reduced the load carrying ability of the ±45° carbon/epoxy laminates. Re‐drying slightly improved the properties and reversed the effects of water. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:2771–2782, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers