CRYOGENIC PROPERTIES OF UNIDIRECTIONAL COMPOSITES

The tensile, compressive, fatigue, thermal expansion, thermal conducti vity and specific heat of unidirectional laminates reinforced with bor on, alumina, aramid, S-glass, E-glass, and high strength, high modulus and medium modulus carbon fibres are reviewed. The ratio of strength to thermal conductivity is used to assess the suitability of various f ibre-reinforced laminates for supporting struts (experiencing compress ion) or straps (experiencing tension) at cryogenic temperatures. The r elationships between laminate properties and reinforcement fibres are discussed.