Quasi-static and fatigue performance of carbon fibre reinforced highly polymerized thermoplastic epoxy

The experimental investigation aimed to understand the effect of the weight-average molecular weight of thermoplastic epoxy matrix on the quasi-static and fatigue properties of carbon fibre textile reinforced composites. The first part is dedicated to the assessment of the effect on the fibre and matrix adhesion by three scale measurements: single fibre and matrix (micro scale); single yarn and matrix (meso scale); laminate (macro scale). The positive effects at macro scale of the highly polymerised matrix are detailed in the second part considering quasi-static and fatigue tensile loadings. The composite with highly polymerised thermoplastic epoxy matrix showed an improvement of the tensile strength, a better capacity to uniformly distribute the stress/strain state and a considerable enhancement of the fatigue life.