Paper number 1259

AB INITIO INVESTIGATION OF CARBON FIBRE REINFORCED PLASTICS APPLYING PHENOLIC RESINS

Bernhard Wielage, Akindele G. Odeshi and Herbert Mucha

Institute of Composites and Surface Technology, Technical University of Chemnitz,
D-09107 Chemnitz, Germany.

Summary

In this study, Carbon Fibres Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) was produced using simple gravity impregnation of 2D carbon fibre clothes with liquid phenolic resins. The study is aimed at revealing the influence of systematically modified raw materials and subsequently modified fabrication conditions on mechanical behaviour and structural morphologies of finished composites. Mechanical properties are obtained from bending tests and Thermomechanical Analysis while structural properties are obtained from optical and scanning electron microscopy. Emphasis is placed on such characteristics of used resins as viscosity, B-Time, solid content and free phenol content and their time dependence. Thermogravimetric Analysis and Differential Scanning Calorimetry of the resins were also carried out at various time intervals. Production variables as well as resin properties are found to have considerable influence on the structure and properties of finished composites. The investigations are part of a research project aiming at producing carbon-carbon (C/C) and carbon-carbon-silicon carbide (C/C-SiC) composites.

Keywords

fibre reinforced plastics, carbon fibre reinforced phenolic resin, phenolic resin, carbon fibre composites, liquid moulding technology, thermal analysis, flexural strength.