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Exploring the impact of void content and hygrothermal aging on the performance of carbon/epoxy composite laminates: a comprehensive study

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Abstract

The effect of voids and aging on the moisture absorption behavior, diffusion characteristics, and thermomechanical and mechanical performance of autoclaved laminates has been investigated. However, a series of 12 laminates based on HexPly 8552S/AS4 prepregs were manufactured by varying the autoclave process parameters to create laminates with different void contents and subjected to conditioning and aging processes. The moisture absorption behavior was evaluated, and a Fickian diffusion model was employed to describe the moisture absorption process. The results showed that void content influenced the moisture absorption rate, resulting in faster absorption rate. Hygrothermal aging decreased the glass transition temperature (Tg), indicating a loss of rigidity in the laminates. The decrease in Tg varies between 9.08 and 12.57%, with an average decrease of 10.62 ± 1.25% compared to samples not subjected to aging. Aging also affected the laminate’s compressive modulus, with a reduction ranging from 6.99 to 10.65%. In addition, the laminate’s compressive strength decreased from 12.7 to 19.2%, while interlaminar shear strength experienced a reduction from 16.8 to 25.7%. These results indicate that these properties were negatively impacted after the aging process. On the other hand, the presence of voids does not appear to play a significant role in the observed reductions in mechanical and thermomechanical properties. These findings provide valuable insights into the detrimental effects of voids and aging on the properties of carbon/epoxy composite laminates.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for the financial support from the Safran Nacelles (France), the Hassan II Academy of Sciences and Technologies (Morocco), and the Euromed University of Fes, Morocco.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ICAM, Site de Grand Paris Sud, 34 Points de Vue, 77127, Lieusaint, France

    Abd Baghad

  2. Euromed Research Center, Euromed Polytechnic School, Euromed University of Fes, 30030, Fes, Morocco

    Khalil El Mabrouk

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  1. Abd Baghad
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Contributions

AB: investigation, methodology, conceptualization, data curation, formal analysis, writing, original draft. KEM: conceptualization, funding acquisition, supervision, review and editing.

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Correspondence to Khalil El Mabrouk.

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Baghad, A., Mabrouk, K.E. Exploring the impact of void content and hygrothermal aging on the performance of carbon/epoxy composite laminates: a comprehensive study. Iran Polym J (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-024-01295-9

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