TY - GEN
T1 - Effect of an atmospheric pressure plasma surface treatment and humidity levels on the interfacial fracture toughness of co-cured composite joints
AU - Mohan, J.
AU - Murphy, N.
AU - Ivankovic, A.
AU - Dowling, D.
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - In this paper, the effects of an atmospheric pressure plasma surface treatment and humidity storage level on an aerospace grade prepreg material prior to co-curing is examined. Three atmospheric pressure plasmas were investigated; Helium, Helium/Nitrogen & Helium/Oxygen. A Helium/Oxygen plasma at 1600 W was found to give the most efficient, uniform treatment in terms of surface energy. A treatment time of 50 sec in a Helium/Oxygen plasma at 1600W gave the highest increase in mode I fracture toughness, GIC. Longer treatment times resulted in lower fracture toughness. Humidity level was found to have an adverse effect on fracture toughness. Fracture toughness deceased as humidity levels increased. The reduction in fracture toughness was accompanied by a drop in the glass transition temperature of the adhesive layer.
AB - In this paper, the effects of an atmospheric pressure plasma surface treatment and humidity storage level on an aerospace grade prepreg material prior to co-curing is examined. Three atmospheric pressure plasmas were investigated; Helium, Helium/Nitrogen & Helium/Oxygen. A Helium/Oxygen plasma at 1600 W was found to give the most efficient, uniform treatment in terms of surface energy. A treatment time of 50 sec in a Helium/Oxygen plasma at 1600W gave the highest increase in mode I fracture toughness, GIC. Longer treatment times resulted in lower fracture toughness. Humidity level was found to have an adverse effect on fracture toughness. Fracture toughness deceased as humidity levels increased. The reduction in fracture toughness was accompanied by a drop in the glass transition temperature of the adhesive layer.
KW - Atmospheric Pressure Plasma
KW - Co-cured Composite Joints
KW - Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) Test
KW - Humidity Level
KW - Interfacial Fracture Toughness
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84866086626&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84866086626
SN - 9781617823190
T3 - 17th European Conference on Fracture 2008: Multilevel Approach to Fracture of Materials, Components and Structures
SP - 2183
EP - 2190
BT - 17th European Conference on Fracture 2008
T2 - 17th European Conference on Fracture 2008: Multilevel Approach to Fracture of Materials, Components and Structures, ECF17
Y2 - 2 September 2008 through 5 September 2008
ER -