Mechanical properties of organic composite materials irradiated with 2 MeV electrons

• Published in: Journal of nuclear materials Vol. 119; no. 2; pp. 146 - 153
• Main Authors: Egusa, S., Kirk, M.A., Birtcher, R.C., Hagiwara, M., Kawanishi, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.01.1983; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Elasticity. Plasticity; Exact sciences and technology; Mechanical and acoustical properties of condensed matter; Mechanical properties and methods of testing. Rheology. Fracture mechanics. Tribology; Metals. Metallurgy; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Physics; Fibre reinforced material; Shear modulus; Organic compound; Modulus of elasticity; Radiation damage; Tensile strength; Electrons
• ISSN: 0022-3115; 1873-4820
• DOI: 10.1016/0022-3115(83)90191-5

Four kinds of cloth-filled organic composites (filler: glass or carbon fiber; matrix: epoxy or polyimide resin) were irradiated with 2 MeV electrons at room temperature, and were examined with regard to the mechanical properties. Following irradiation the Young's (tensile) modulus of these composites remains practically unchanged even after irradiation up to 15000 Mrad. The shear modulus and the ultimate strength, on the other hand, begin to decrease after the absorbed dose reaches about 2000 Mrad for the glass/epoxy composite and about 5000–10000 Mrad for the other composites. This result is ascribed to the decrease in the capacity of load transfer from the matrix to the fiber due to the radiation damage at the interface, and the dose dependence is interpreted and formulated based on the mechanics of composite materials and the target theory used in radiation biology. As to the fracture behavior, the propagation energy increases from the beginning of irradiation. This result is attributed to the radiation-induced decrease in the bonding energy at the interface.