HIGH-TEMPERATURE DAMAGE TOLERANCE OF CARBON-FIBER-REINFORCED PLASTICS.1. IMPACT CHARACTERISTICS

The impact performance of a number of thermoplastic- and thermosetting -matrix carbon fibre composites is examined at room temperature, 80-de grees-C and 150-degrees-C. Tests were performed to examine the influen ce of matrix type and morphology on the ability of the composite to wi thstand penetration, absorb energy and sustain damage. A distinction i s made between impacts at high energy where full penetration of the sp ecimen takes place by the indentor, and low-energy tests where damage is introduced but the plate is not ruptured. The influence of test tem perature on both types of impact event is examined for a restricted se t of specimens consisting of an epoxy-matrix laminate, Fibredux 924C, and a polyaryl sulfone-matrix thermoplastic laminate, Radel 8320. Test temperature is shown to have little influence on through-penetration impact results, although high-temperature testing does increase the sp read of delaminations in epoxy laminates subjected to low-energy impac t tests.