Temperature effect on the mechanical properties and damage mechanisms of a glass/thermoplastic laminate

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the temperature effect on the mechanical properties and damage mechanisms of a Glass/Elium 150 laminate composite. Quasi-static indentation tests are carried out at different temperatures to highlight the temperature dependency of different parameters of the samples (stiffness, maximum load, stored elastic energy, and applied energy). The different damage mechanisms involved in the collapse of the composite are observed at the macro-, meso-, and micro-scopic scales using optical and scanning electron microscopy. The influence of temperature on these damage mechanisms is discussed based on post-mortem observations. It has been highlighted that the kind and the severity of damage are strongly temperature dependent. Below 20℃, fiber breakage, strand failure, intra- and inter-laminar crack propagation are identified. At 60℃, plastic flow of the polymer matrix is observed, which modifies micro-crack propagation at the fiber/matrix interface. Above 90℃, only intra-laminar micro-cracking occurs. To conclude, based on all these observations the kinetics of damage appearance are discussed.