| Abstract: | Investigations on the suitability of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy for using at cryogenic temperatures The following investigations show the mechanical properties of some carbon fiber reinforced epoxies under quasistatic load. Both prepregs and wet laminates are tested to get a suitable fiber/matrix-combination for using at cryogenic temperatures. Therefore the material research is done at room temperatures. Therefore the material research is done at room temperature and at liquid nitrogen atmosphere. The characteristics, which serve for the basis of valuation are ultimate strength, elongation at fracture and modulus of elasticity. At liquid nitrogen temperature ultimate tensile strength and elongation at fracture show a decrease in comparison to room temperature, but Young's Modulus increases insignificantly with tensile loading. In the compression test all the characteristics grow larger. Furthermore the influence of the testing temperature on the mechanical characteristics of prepregs and wet laminates is pronounced differently. The experiments also show, that the dependence of the temperature on the mechanical properties may be influenced by the kind of the reinforcing fibers. This statement applies especially to the value of the obtainable interlaminar shear strength. |
