Thermo-Oxidative Stability and Fiber Surface Modification Effects on the Inplane Shear Properties of Graphite/PMR-15 Composites

Experiments were conducted to study the effects of thermo-oxidative stability (weight loss) and fiber surface modification on the inplane shear properties of graphite/PMR-15 unidirectional composites. The isothermal aging was conducted at 316°C and up to 1000 hours of aging times. The role of fiber surface treatment on the composite degradation during the thermo-oxidative aging was investigated by using A-4 graphite fibers having three different surface modifications, namely untreated (AU-4), surface treated (AS-4), and surface treated and sized with epoxy-compatible sizing (AS-4G). Weight loss of matrix, fibers, and composites was determined during the aging. The effect of thermal aging was seen in all the fiber samples in terms of their weight loss and reduction in fiber diameter. Calculated values of weight loss fluxes for different surfaces of rectangular unidirectional composite plates showed that the largest weight loss occurs at those cut surfaces where fibers are perpendicular to the surface. Consequently, the largest amount of damage was also noted on these cut surfaces. Optical observation of neat matrix and composites plates subjected to the different aging times revealed that the degradation (such as matrix microcracking, void growth, etc.) occurred within a thin surface layer near specimen edges. The inplane shear modulus of the composites was unaffected by the fiber surface treatment and the thermal aging. The shear strength of the composites having the untreated fibers was the lowest and it decreased with aging. Fracture surface examination of the composites having untreated fibers suggests that the weak interface allows the oxidation reaction to proceed along the interface and thus expose the inner material to further oxidation. The results indicate that fiber-matrix interface affects the composite degradation process during its thermal aging and that the weak interface accelerates the composite degradation.