Effect of atomic oxygen on the mechanical properties of highly graphitized carbon fibers

Material degradation is a serious problem for large structural members that operate in low earth orbit for a long time. In order to study how the mechanical properties of the fibers change in this environment, highly graphitized polyacrylonitrile-based high modulus carbon fibers have been exposed to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Carbon (New York) 1994, Vol.32 (4), p.641-644
Main Authors: Stark, A.K., Berglund, L.A., Tagawa, M., Ohmae, N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Atomic oxygen
Building materials. Ceramics. Glasses
Ceramic and carbon fibers
Ceramic industries
Chemical industry and chemicals
Engineering Materials
Exact sciences and technology
graphitized fibers
low earth orbit
Materialteknik
mechanical properties
spacecrafts
Technical ceramics
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Summary:Material degradation is a serious problem for large structural members that operate in low earth orbit for a long time. In order to study how the mechanical properties of the fibers change in this environment, highly graphitized polyacrylonitrile-based high modulus carbon fibers have been exposed to different fluences of atomic oxygen, the dominant atmospheric element in low earth orbit. Tensile tests were performed on these fibers. Young's modulus and tensile strength decreased with increasing exposure to atomic oxygen. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the surface of the carbon fiber was severely degraded by the atomic oxygen, and this explains the decreases in Young's modulus and tensile strength.
ISSN:0008-6223
1873-3891
1873-3891
DOI:10.1016/0008-6223(94)90084-1