Original paper(Vol.46 No.2 pp.157)

Effects of water absorption and cryogenic temperature on strength of ArFRP

Komai Kenjiro; Shiroshita Sohei; Okamoto Keiji

Abstract:Aramid fiber reinforced plastics (ArFRP) is being applied in severe service conditions, such as aeronautical or space environments. Therefore, it is necessary to elucidate its strength in various environments. In the present study, static tensile and fatigue tests of dry and wet specimens of ArFRP were carried out at room temperature and at cryogenic temperature, 77 K. Two types of aramid fibers, Dupont's Kevlar49 and Teijin's Technora were used for the reinforcement.
The fractured specimens were inspected under a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) after the tests and the fracture mechanisms were analyzed. The tensile strength of aramid fibers was also measured at the same temperatures. The effects of cryogenic temperature and water absorption on the strength of ArFRP and aramid fibers were made clear.

Key Words:ArFRP, static strength, fatigue strength, cryogenic temperature, water absorption, SEM, fractography