Study of Mixing Ratio Effect on Physical & Mechanical Properties of Carbon fiber-Phenolic resin Composites

Abstract

Over the last four decades, carbon fibers have emerged as the main reinforcement filler for high performance composite materials. They can be employed in various polymer matrices, however Phenolic based carbon composites are an attractive choice for high temperature aerospace application on account of their high strength and thermal stability. In present study, increasing chopped carbon fiber wt % (40 ~ 55 %) was employed in phenolic matrix to obtain best mixing ratio for optimum mechanical & thermal properties for a specific high temperature aerospace application. Samples were prepared by compression molding technique and then characterized for morphology, mechanical & thermal properties using SEM, Tensile Testing Facility, TGA & DSC technique. Mechanical properties test result showed that tensile strength, elongation, modulus and impact strength were increased by increasing fiber wt % in phenolic matrix. Ablation & TGA tests revealed that thermal properties were also improved by addition of carbon fibers to phenolic matrix. Glass transition temperature was however reduced by addition of carbon fiber to phenolic matrix. Analysis of test results concluded that 45 wt% Phenolic/Carbon Composite has shown optimum properties with better tensile strength, modulus, impact strength, good ablation rate and thermal decomposition temperature, fulfilling all requirements of specific application.