The use of carbon / epoxy composites in high performance areas like aviation and aerospace is growing day by day. During service these composites are used, in conjunction with metals in the form of rivets, bolts, holding plates etc. Carbon, being nobler than metals, promotes anodic dissolution of metals in electrolytes as well as cathodic degradation of the composites. In this study, the combined effect of galvanic coupling and electrolytic diffusion on the interlaminar mechanical properties of the carbon / epoxy composites has been investigated. The samples of carbon epoxy laminate composites saturated in 3.5% NaCl were exposed to a cathodic potential for long duration in an electrochemical cell. Significant reduction in the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) was observed. However, the interlaminar fracture toughness (GIc) was found to increase. The influence of environment on ILSS and GIc is explained with the help of fractographic analysis.

Subject
Fracture toughness, Degradation, Saturation, Micrography, Sodium chloride solution, Mechanical failure, Interfaces, Shear, Composites, Fibers, Metals, Carbon, Epoxies
Keywords:
Carbon-epoxy composite, cathodic electrochemical exposure, ILSS, GIc
© 2006 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
2006
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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