Premium
Voids formation and their effects on mechanical properties in thermoformed carbon fiber fabric‐reinforced composites
Author(s) -
Jiang Wei,
Huang Zhigao,
Wang Yunming,
Zheng Bing,
Zhou Huamin
Publication year - 2019
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.24876
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , thermoforming , void (composites) , flexural strength , flexural modulus , modulus , volume fraction
Carbon fiber fabric‐reinforced polycarbonate composites with different processing parameters were fabricated by thermoforming process. Effects of processing conditions on volume fraction, spatial distribution, geometrical shape and size of voids were investigated with the aid of X‐ray computed tomography and microscopy observation. Regardless of holding pressure or dwell time, voids exhibited similar shape and size and were mainly concentrated in interlaminar zone. Meanwhile, three‐point bending test and short‐beam strength test were performed to evaluate the effects of the void content on mechanical properties. The flexural strength and modulus significantly reduced with only a small amount of void content increase, which decreased by about 23 MPa and 2.17 GPa for each rise of 1% in void content, respectively. The relationship between the voids and interlaminar shear property was also established and a suitable processing window was gained. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:E1094–E1102, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers