Experimental determination of ultrasonic wave velocities in plastics as functions of temperature. I. Common plastics and selected nose‐cone materials

Abstract

Abstract An experimental study was conducted to determine previously unavailable data showing the relationship between temperature and the velocity of longitudinal ultrasonic waves through several plastics. The ultrasonic frequencies used were between 1 and 10 Mc./sec., and the temperature range covered was between room temperature and 100°C. Velocity–temperature curves were determined for nylon, a high‐ and a low‐density polyethylene, Plexiglas, Teflon, and for several reentry vehicle nose‐cone materials, including chopped nylon phenolic, tape‐wound nylon phenolic, Castable 124, Avcoat I, and Avcoat 19. Less complete data were obtained for Avco phenolic fiber glass, General Electric phenolic fiber glass, and oblique tape‐wound refrasil. These layered materials are difficult to measure, and the velocity of acoustic waves is very dependent on the direction of propagation with respect to the laminations. For most of the materials studied the velocity was found to decrease more or less linearly with increasing temperature. Typically, the velocities at 100°C. were 9–31% less than at room temperature.