Development and fabrication of bismaleimide-graphite composites

The successful fabrication of high temperature resistant composites depends mainly on the processability of the resin binder matrix. For two new bismaleimide type resins the processing of graphite fabric prepregs to composites is described. One resin coded M 751 has to be processed from N-Methylpyrrolidone, the other resin evaluated is a so-called hot melt solvent-less system. Commercial T300/3000 Graphite fabrics were used as reinforcement. The M 751 - Resin is a press grade material and laminates are therefore moulded in high pressure conditions (400 N/sq cm). The solvent-less resin system H 795 is an autoclave grade material and can be cured at 40 N/sq cm. The cure cycles for both the press grade and the autoclave grade material (Fiberite W 143 fabric prepregs) are provided and the mechanical properties of laminates at low (23 C) and high (232 C) temperatures were measured. For comparison, the neat resin flexural properties are also presented. The water absorption for the neat resins and the graphite fabric laminates after a 1000 hour period was evaluated

Bismaleimide resins for flame resistant honeycomb sandwich panels

Bismaleimide resins are prime candidates for nonflammable aircraft interior panels. Three resin types with different structures and processing characteristics were formulated. Resin M 751 was used to fabricate 100 kg of glass fabric prepregs which were used for the preparation of face sheets for honeycomb sandwich panels. Prepreg characteristics and curing cycles for laminate fabrication are provided. In order to advance beyond the current solvent resin technology for fibre and fabric impregnation, a hot melt solvent-less resin system was prepared and characterized. Preliminary tests were performed to develop a wet bonding process for the fabrication of advanced sandwich honeycomb panels by use of polybismaleimide glass fabric face sheets and polybismaleimide Nomex honeycomb core. B-stage material was used for both the core and the face sheet, providing flatwise tensile properties equivalent to those obtained by the state-of-the-art 3-step process which includes an epoxy adhesive resin

Mechanical modeling of initiation of localized yielding under plane stress conditions in rigid-rigid polymer alloys

Two-dimensional Finite Element Method simulations, which involve consideration of the nonlinearity of a material, have been conducted to gain understanding about the rigid-rigid polymer toughening concept we proposed. The simulation results for the plane stress condition indicate that as long as the inclusion phase possesses (i) a 60% difference in the tangent modulus from that of the matrix at any given strain level prior to failure or (ii) smaller yield or craze stain than the yield strain of the matrix, then, localized shear yielding will occur around the inclusion. A toughened rigid-rigid polymer alloy system can then be obtained. The plain strain case is also discussed with an implementation of the rigid-rigid polymer toughening concept.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/38110/1/760311106_ftp.pd