THE INTERLAMINAR FAILURE BEHAVIOR OF CARBON-FIBER POLYETHERETHERKETONE COMPOSITES

The interlaminar failure of fibre composites based upon carbon fibre i n a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) matrix has been studied using a fractu re mechanics approach. A main aim of the present work was to compare t he interlaminar failure behaviour of thermoplastic PEEK composites whi ch had been prepared from very different types of prepreg. One prepreg was supplied in the usual form of a tape, consisting of unidirectiona l, continuous carbon fibres in a matrix of thermoplastic PEEK. The sec ond type of prepreg was in the form of a fabric, consisting of unidire ctional, continuous carbon fibres which were interwoven, normal to the direction of the carbon fibres, with continuous fibres of PEEK, It is shown that these different types of prepreg lead to composites which exhibit significant differences in their interlaminar locus of failure curves. The micromechanisms responsible for these observed difference s also discussed.