Correlation of Accelerated Aging Test to Natural Aging Test on Graphite-Epoxy Composite Materials

Abstract

In order to evaluate the degradation of the mechanical and physical properties of composites under ground environments, T300/AD6005 graphite-epoxy composite specimens were exposed to natural environments for 5 years and accelerated environmental conditions including ultraviolet radiation, temperature and moisture for 2000 h. It was found that transverse flexural properties were more sensitive to environmental damage in a composite than other properties. Matrix cracking and matrix loss were observed at the surface of aged specimens by using scanning electron microscope. In order to achieve the same effect on the material in a shorter time period, the accelerated factor, a, was introduced and determined for several mechanical properties by using proposed degradation equations of material properties and linear relationship between the natural and accelerated aging time.

Ageing of composites in the rail industry

“…However, he did not consider the effects of degradation of composite structures due to exposure to external environments. Shin et al 7 evaluated the effects of degradation induced by external environment factors on the T300/AD6005 graphite/epoxy composite materials being considered for use on the Korean tilting train carriage structures. T300/AD6005 graphite/epoxy composite specimens were exposed to natural environments for 5 years and accelerated environmental conditions -including ultraviolet radiation, temperature and moisture -for 2000 hours.…”

Evaluation of the structural integrity of hybrid railway carriage structures including the ageing effects of composite materials

“…T300/AD6005 graphite/epoxy composite material is typical for commercial graphite/epoxy composite material either being considered for or being used in land transportation structure [7]. After cutting and shaping to predetermined dimensions according to ASTM standards, the specimens were labeled and measured their dimensions.…”

“…The program no. 5 was chosen because it was best choice to simulate outdoor environmental conditions in Korea for accelerated ageing test [7]. The program was set up to test specimens periodically at 0 (baseline), 500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 h in the WeatherOmeter.…”

Comparison on mechanical properties, damage evolution and aging effects of multi-delaminated composites under three point bending

“…Hence, the aging property of FRP is an essential part of structural health monitoring. In order to evaluate the correlation between natural aging and accelerated aging, the degradation of the mechanical and physical properties of graphite-epoxy composites exposed to natural environments and accelerated environmental conditions respectively was investigated by Shin et al [6]. The results show that transverse flexural property of composite is sensitive to environmental damage, moreover, the strength and stiffness of the material after exposure decrease exponentially with the aging time.…”