Analysis and modeling of the creep behavior of the thermostable PMR-15 polyimide

To establish the constitutive equations for carbon/PMR-15 composites and to determine the contribution of the matrix to the mechanical response, an analysis of the behavior of the PMR-15 polyimide alone has been performed under thermomechanical loading conditions corresponding to military aeroengine applications. In particular, the creep behavior of the material has been studied for several combinations of stress (0.3 to 0.7 σr), temperature (250 to 300°C), and time (5 and 1300 h). The creep compliance has been modeled in the field where the behavior is linear, using the Burgers model, together with a retardation time distribution for the viscoelastic region. The viscoelastic behavior is described satisfactorily by the Kohlrausch function, and combined with the Maxwell relation, enables the creep compliance of PMR-15 polyimide to be modeled in the temperature range considered for short loading times. For long times at 250°C and 0.3 σr, the polymer undergoes slow plastic deformation, but nevertheless, conserves its overall viscoelastic properties. There is no equivalence between time and temperature. The master curve, constructed graphically on the basis of linear viscoelastic strains, short times, and a reference temperature of 250°C, deviates quite significantly from the experimental curve at longer times. In the latter case, the creep compliance curve can be correctly fitted to a simple power law. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 69: 1983–1991, 1998