TY - JOUR
T1 - Dynamic tensile strength of organic fiber-reinforced epoxy micro-composites
AU - Katz, S.
AU - Zaretsky, E.
AU - Grossman, E.
AU - Wagner, H. D.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank Dr. M. Murat and Dr. I. Gouzman from Soreq NRC space environment section for their enlightening remarks, and E. Wiesel and N. Lachman from Weizmann Institute for their help. We also acknowledge support from the G.M.J. Schmidt Minerva Centre of Supramolecular Architectures at the Weizmann Institute of Science. H.D. Wagner is the recipient of the Livio Norzi Professorial Chair.
PY - 2009/6/1
Y1 - 2009/6/1
N2 - Outer surfaces of spacecraft in orbit are exposed to hypervelocity impact originating from micro-meteoroids and space debris. The structural composite materials are integral parts of the spacecraft envelope. We studied the impact response of structural micro-composites containing Kevlar 29, spectra 1000 and oxygen RF (Radio Frequency) plasma surface-treated spectra 1000 fibers of 27-μm diameter, embedded in 100-μm epoxy resin films, in a series of planar impact experiments. The composites were loaded by 50-μm aluminum and polycarbonate impactors having velocities ranging from 400 to 550 m/s. The velocity of the free surface of the composite samples was continuously monitored by VISAR (Velocity Interferometer System for Any Reflector). The dynamic tensile (spall) strength of the micro-composites was calculated on the basis of the recorded free surface velocity profiles. Correlations were found between the spall strength and the separately measured: (i) fiber/matrix interfacial adhesion, (ii) tensile strengths of the fibers, of the matrix and of the micro-composites, and (iii) internal residual stresses. The spall strength of surface-treated spectra fibers micro-composites was found to be lower than that of both pristine spectra fibers micro-composites, and the pure epoxy film. The epoxy film reinforced by Kevlar fibers was found to have the highest spall strength.
AB - Outer surfaces of spacecraft in orbit are exposed to hypervelocity impact originating from micro-meteoroids and space debris. The structural composite materials are integral parts of the spacecraft envelope. We studied the impact response of structural micro-composites containing Kevlar 29, spectra 1000 and oxygen RF (Radio Frequency) plasma surface-treated spectra 1000 fibers of 27-μm diameter, embedded in 100-μm epoxy resin films, in a series of planar impact experiments. The composites were loaded by 50-μm aluminum and polycarbonate impactors having velocities ranging from 400 to 550 m/s. The velocity of the free surface of the composite samples was continuously monitored by VISAR (Velocity Interferometer System for Any Reflector). The dynamic tensile (spall) strength of the micro-composites was calculated on the basis of the recorded free surface velocity profiles. Correlations were found between the spall strength and the separately measured: (i) fiber/matrix interfacial adhesion, (ii) tensile strengths of the fibers, of the matrix and of the micro-composites, and (iii) internal residual stresses. The spall strength of surface-treated spectra fibers micro-composites was found to be lower than that of both pristine spectra fibers micro-composites, and the pure epoxy film. The epoxy film reinforced by Kevlar fibers was found to have the highest spall strength.
KW - A. Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs)
KW - B. Dynamic tensile strength
KW - B. Interfacial strength
KW - C. Residual stress
KW - D. Raman spectroscopy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=67349126522&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.compscitech.2009.02.031
DO - 10.1016/j.compscitech.2009.02.031
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:67349126522
SN - 0266-3538
VL - 69
SP - 1250
EP - 1255
JO - Composites Science and Technology
JF - Composites Science and Technology
IS - 7-8
ER -