Operation of polymer composite materials modified in a MW electromagnetic field under low temperatures conditions

Abstract

Tests of control and microwave-modified samples of carbon- and glass-reinforced plastic were carried out according to the scheme of threepoint bending. The sample's temperature was -200C. It has been established that microwave exposure on to these materials for two minutes in the cured state at an energy flux density of (17-18) x104 and (22-25) x104 μW/cm2, respectively, contributes to an increase in bending strength by 12% and 15% with an increase in the uniformity of the parameter in a batch of samples from 1.5 to 4.9 times. It has been established that the accumulation of destructive damage in the prototypes occurs over a 2.5-3.5 times longer period of time than the control ones. The difference in the mechanisms of destruction of control and experimental samples is noted. If the destruction of the control samples has a brittle nature, then for the prototypes there is a tendency to the appearance of a plastic component.

Keywords

• polymer composite materials
• microwave exposure
• carbon reinforced plastic
• glass reinforced plastic