FRACTURE-BEHAVIOR OF PLASTIC-COPPER INTERFACES IN THE CRACK OPENING MODE (MODE-I) AFTER NEUTRON AND GAMMA-IRRADIATION

We report on the mechanical properties of interfaces between fibre rei nforced plastics and copper in the crack opening mode (mode I) at room temperature and at 77 K. In addition, neutron and gamma irradiations were performed in the TRIGA reactor (Vienna, Austria) up to a fluence of 1 x 10(22) m(-2) (E > 0.1 MeV) prior to testing. The mechanical tes ts were made on two-dimensionally reinforced epoxy (ISOVAL 10)-copper interfaces at room temperature and at 77 K with a newly developed and experimentally simple splitting method. Details of the testing techniq ue as well as influences of different treatments of the copper surface and of irradiation on the mechanical behaviour of the interfaces are presented and discussed, together with results of acoustic emission an d fractographic investigations of the fracture surfaces.