1. Enhanced interfacial, mechanical, and anti-hygrothermal properties of carbon fiber/cyanate ester composites with the catalytic sizing agents of titanium epoxy.
- Author
-
Xu, Peng, Wu, Yushan, Li, Yifan, Xiang, Yu, Lu, Hantian, Hua, Zhengli, Qin, Faxiang, and Peng, Hua-Xin
- Subjects
- *
CATALYSTS , *CARBON fibers , *HYGROTHERMOELASTICITY , *CATALYSIS , *INTERFACIAL stresses , *TITANIUM , *STRESS concentration , *TRIAZINES , *EPOXY resins - Abstract
The mechanical properties of composites are closely related to the interfacial behavior, especially under the hygrothermal circumstance. A catalytic sizing agent of titanium epoxy is designed to enhance interfacial, mechanical, and anti-hygrothermal properties of high modulus carbon fiber (HMCF)/cyanate ester composites simultaneously. The mechanisms of interface enhancement and low hygroscopicity of composites are investigated. The titanium epoxy is synthesized and its catalytic effect on the curing of cyanate ester is proved. The interfacial properties of HMCF composites with catalytic sizing agents are improved to 95.5 MPa, which is attributed to the interphase with high crosslinking density and sufficient triazine rings and oxazolidinone structure due to preferential curing induced by interfacial catalysis, stimulating the smooth transition of interphase modulus. Further, the formed interphase exhibits few interface defects and low content of hydroxyl groups, which changes the moisture diffusion path and reduces saturated water absorption of composites to only 0.36 %, resulting in the release of interfacial wet stress concentration and high retention of mechanical properties in hygrothermal environment. The resultant composites with high stiffness, excellent temperature resistance, superior dimensional stability and low moisture absorption are expected to be applied to high-orbit space, aerospace, precision instruments. [Display omitted] • The interfacial, mechanical, and anti-hygrothermal properties of composites are improved via catalytic sizing agents. • Catalytic sizing agents induce preferential curing of resin at the interface. • Catalytic sizing agents stimulate the smooth transition of modulus and increase IFSS. • The interphase with high interfacial adhesion and low hygroscopicity changes the moisture absorption path in composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF