HIGH-TEMPERATURE DAMAGE TOLERANCE OF CARBON-FIBER-REINFORCED PLASTICS.2. POSTIMPACT COMPRESSION CHARACTERISTICS

The post-impact compression strength of a poly(aryl sulfone) (PAS) the rmoplastic, Radel 8320, and a toughened epoxy, Fibredux 924, matrix ca rbon fibre composites is examined at room temperature, 80-degrees-C an d 150-degrees-C after non-penetrating impacts at combinations of these temperatures. Various fracture modes were identified but not found to have any correlation with variations in measured residual strength. I n general terms, increasing the temperature of compression testing has a significant effect on the post-impact compression strength, whereas the temperature of the impact event has a marginal effect. There is e vidence that the growth of impact generated delamination is restricted at the high temperatures during compression compared to growth at roo m temperature in the case of the epoxy matrix (thermoset), but this is not the case for the thermoplastic PAS.