JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #94 - January/February 2015 - 51

matrix

Durability of organic-matrix
composite materials
This paper, presented by CNEP, a French research center specialized
on physicochemical analysis of polymer and composites, describes
briefly the challenge of organic-matrix composites materials to
maintain their initial properties over the timespan considering the
inherent fragility of most polymers to ageing (thermal, photo,..).
This can be approached by using accelerated ageings techniques
representative of their exposure in use conditions and eventually but
developping an efficient stabilization according these use conditions.

By
ProfeSSorS JAcqueS lAcoSte 1,2,3 And JAcqueS lemAire 1
1 centre nAtionAl d'ÉvAluAtion de PhotoProtection
A SubSidiAry comPAny of univerSitÉ blAiSe PAScAl
2 clermont univerSitÉ, enSccf,
inStitut de chimie de clermont-ferrAnd
3 cnrS, umr 6296, iccf

The need to lower the weight of
oxidation of combustion with the oxycertain structural materials in order to
gen in air. This article deals specificalreduce consumption of fossil energy
ly with ageing issues, as combustion
in the transportation industry (esissues can be solved only by acting on
he current field of composites
pecially aviation) is driving accelerthe polymer structure or by adding
deals in general with the combi- ated development in that area. The
relatively high concentrations of fire
nation of polymers - both ther- purpose of this article is to emphasize
retardant agents.
mosetting and thermoplastic - with
that while these composite materials
mineral or organic reinforcements,
contribute enormous advantages, we
Ageing of polymer materials
although this family of materials also need to be very conscious of the limits
(matrix, and sometimes the
includes the combination of purely in- of their utilization, in particular to
composite reinforcement or
organic matrices and reinforcements, guarantee that their properties for the
adhesive)
which are not covered in this article.
intended use will be maintained over
While ageing can be due purely to
Both the low density of most organic the long term.
physical factors (additive extraction,
polymers (e.g. for polyolefins, lower
than 1) and an effective matrix/reThe inherent fragility
inforcement interface (which often
of polymers to comrequires a surface treatment for the
bustion and ageing
reinforcement) give these materiThese are the two Achilals attractive mechanical properties,
le's heels of polymers, due
making them very competitive with
to the presence of large
traditional structural materials.
numbers of carbon/carbon and carbon/hydrogen
It is especially this characteristic that bonds in their structures
has helped to proliferate their use in
which make them vulour daily lives, even if there are other nerable to oxidation, in
equally crucial properties, like fatigue particular to that caused
strength, conductive resistance, or
by heat or photochemichemical resistance.
cal ageing and to the final Mechanism of polymer ageing

T

No94 January - February 2015

/ jec composites magazine 51
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #94 - January/February 2015

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