Abstract
The ease of heating an epoxy resin with microwaves depends, among other factors, on the dielectric properties of its components at the frequency of the radiation used. The majority of the papers published on the microwave curing of reinforced epoxy resin composites have used widely available DGEBA type resins and amine hardeners such as 4,4’-diaminodiphenylsulphone (DDS). This paper investigates the use of two epoxy systems where the choice of resin and hardener was based on their measured dielectric loss factors. System 1 contained a resin and hardener with higher loss factors than those used in System 2. The two systems were formulated with polyetherimide (PEI) as a toughening agent. Unidirectional carbon fibre prepregs were prepared from both systems. Composites were laid up from these prepregs which were then cured in three different ways: autoclave curing, partial autoclave curing followed by microwave post-curing, and microwave curing. System 1 composites had greater flexural properties and interlaminar shear strengths than System 2 composites when autoclave cured. Flexural properties and interlaminar shear strengths were greater for System 2 in the microwave post-cured composites. When fully microwave cured the properties were similar. In the microwave cured composites the flexural and interlaminar shear properties were influenced by the structure of the phase separated PEI and the void content.
Disciplines
Analytical Chemistry | Catalysis and Reaction Engineering | Chemical Engineering | Chemistry | Complex Fluids | Engineering | Engineering Science and Materials | Heat Transfer, Combustion | Manufacturing | Materials Chemistry | Materials Science and Engineering | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanics of Materials | Membrane Science | Nanoscience and Nanotechnology | Organic Chemistry | Other Chemical Engineering | Other Chemistry | Other Civil and Environmental Engineering | Other Engineering Science and Materials | Other Materials Science and Engineering | Petroleum Engineering | Physical Chemistry | Polymer and Organic Materials | Polymer Chemistry | Polymer Science | Structural Engineering | Structural Materials | Thermodynamics
Recommended Citation
Nightingale C. & Day, R.J. (2002) ‘Flexural and interlaminar shear strength properties of carbon fibre/epoxy composites cured thermally and with microwave radiation’. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, Vol 33, Issue 7, pp. 1021-1030.
Digital Commons Citation
Nightingale C. & Day, R.J. (2002) ‘Flexural and interlaminar shear strength properties of carbon fibre/epoxy composites cured thermally and with microwave radiation’. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, Vol 33, Issue 7, pp. 1021-1030.
Included in
Analytical Chemistry Commons, Catalysis and Reaction Engineering Commons, Complex Fluids Commons, Heat Transfer, Combustion Commons, Manufacturing Commons, Materials Chemistry Commons, Mechanics of Materials Commons, Membrane Science Commons, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Commons, Organic Chemistry Commons, Other Chemical Engineering Commons, Other Chemistry Commons, Other Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons, Other Engineering Science and Materials Commons, Other Materials Science and Engineering Commons, Petroleum Engineering Commons, Physical Chemistry Commons, Polymer and Organic Materials Commons, Polymer Chemistry Commons, Polymer Science Commons, Structural Engineering Commons, Structural Materials Commons, Thermodynamics Commons
Comments
Copyright © 2002 Elsevier. All rights reserved.
This is the author’s final version of the work after peer review. The article was originally published in Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing in 2002 by Elsevier. The full published article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1359-835X(02)00031-3 on the publisher’s website http://sciencedirect.com