Thermal Fatigue of Composites: Ultrasonic and SEM Evaluations

Abstract

Results are presented on the evaluation of thermal fatigue in three fiber reinforced polymer composites, using ultrasonic techniques and scanning electron microscopy. The composites examined were (a) continuous carbon fibers in a vinylester matrix (b) continuous aramid fibers in a vinylester matrix and (c) randomly oriented aramid fibers in a polyphenylene matrix. Specimens of these composites were subjected to thermal fatigue by thermal cycling from −25°C to 75°C. Changes in ultrasonic attenuation and velocity were monitored during thermal cycling, and scanning electron microscopy was used to qualitatively evaluate any damage. It was observed that ultrasonic attenuation is sensitive to thermal fatigue, increasing with increasing number of thermal cycles. SEM evaluations showed that the primary damage due to thermal fatigue is due to fiber-matrix debonding.