Long-term thermal aging of 2 graphite-polyimide composite materials

Two graphite/polyimide composite materials were aged in circulating air ovens at temperatures 204 C, 232 C, 260 C, and 288 C for various times up to 25000 hours. The composites were: (1) Celanese Celion 6000 graphite fiber and PMR-15 polyimide resin (Celion/PMR-15) and (2) Celion 6000 graphite fiber and LARC-160 polyimide resin (Celion/LARC-160). Three unidirectional specimen geometries were studied: short beam shear (SBS) specimens, flexure specimens, and 153 mm square panels. The interior regions of the square panels exhibited only minor property degradation. The individually aged SBS and flexure specimens exhibited large reductions in strengths after aging. Both laminate materials cracked and degraded preferentially at the specimen edge perpendicular to the fibers.