Impacts of aggressive aviation fluids on physical and chemical properties of aerospace-grade fiber composites

IF 7.4 2区化学 Q1 POLYMER SCIENCE

Polymer Degradation and Stability Pub Date : 2025-09-18 DOI:10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111679

Abdulhammed K. Hamzat , Fatih Altun , Farzana Yeasmin , Naime Unlu , Ersin Bahceci , Eylem Asmatulu , Mete Bakir , Ramazan Asmatulu

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Abstract

Fiber-reinforced composites (FRCs) are crucial in the aerospace industry because of their lightweight and durable features. However, concerns exist regarding their performance when exposed to aviation fluids. This study examines how five aviation fluids—hydraulic fluid (HF), isopropyl alcohol (Iso P), dry cleaning solvent (DCS), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and an oil-water mixture—affect aerospace-grade carbon and glass fiber composites over 15 and 30 days. MEK caused the highest fluid absorption in both composite types, with glass fiber composites being more prone to degradation. Interlaminar shear strength analysis showed that carbon fiber composites retained better resistance to delamination when exposed to aviation fluids, with MEK causing the greatest reduction in interlaminar shear strength (ILSS). Specifically, the ILSS of carbon fiber composites decreases by about 30% in MEK, while that of glass fiber composites drops by around 45%. Dynamic mechanical analysis demonstrated notable decreases in storage modulus and glass transition temperatures, indicating significant softening of the polymer matrix. Energy dispersive spectroscopy identified fluid-specific elemental signatures at fiber-matrix interfaces, such as phosphorus and sulfur enrichment in HF-treated samples and chloride penetration in MEK-exposed specimens. The superior performance of carbon fiber composites results from better interfacial stability compared to hydroxyl-rich glass fiber surfaces, which are vulnerable to chemical attack. This research provides insights for designing more fluid-resistant composites, paving the way for safer and more durable solutions in aerospace engineering.

查看原文本刊更多论文

侵蚀性航空流体对航空级纤维复合材料物理和化学性能的影响

纤维增强复合材料（FRCs）因其轻便耐用的特点在航空航天工业中至关重要。然而，它们在接触航空流体时的性能令人担忧。本研究考察了五种航空流体——液压油（HF）、异丙醇（Iso P）、干洗溶剂（DCS）、甲基乙基酮（MEK）和油水混合物——在15天和30天内对航空级碳和玻璃纤维复合材料的影响。两种复合材料中MEK的流体吸收量最高，玻璃纤维复合材料更容易降解。层流剪切强度分析表明，当碳纤维复合材料暴露于航空流体中时，其层间剪切强度（ILSS）下降幅度最大，MEK对其抗分层性能的影响最大。具体来说，在MEK中，碳纤维复合材料的ILSS下降了30%左右，而玻璃纤维复合材料的ILSS下降了45%左右。动态力学分析表明，存储模量和玻璃化转变温度显著降低，表明聚合物基体明显软化。能量色散光谱识别了纤维-基质界面上流体特有的元素特征，如hf处理样品中的磷和硫富集以及mek暴露样品中的氯化物渗透。碳纤维复合材料的优异性能源于其界面稳定性优于易受化学侵蚀的富羟基玻璃纤维表面。这项研究为设计更耐流体的复合材料提供了见解，为航空航天工程中更安全、更耐用的解决方案铺平了道路。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Polymer Degradation and Stability 化学-高分子科学

CiteScore

10.10

自引率

10.20%

发文量

325

审稿时长

23 days

期刊介绍： Polymer Degradation and Stability deals with the degradation reactions and their control which are a major preoccupation of practitioners of the many and diverse aspects of modern polymer technology. Deteriorative reactions occur during processing, when polymers are subjected to heat, oxygen and mechanical stress, and during the useful life of the materials when oxygen and sunlight are the most important degradative agencies. In more specialised applications, degradation may be induced by high energy radiation, ozone, atmospheric pollutants, mechanical stress, biological action, hydrolysis and many other influences. The mechanisms of these reactions and stabilisation processes must be understood if the technology and application of polymers are to continue to advance. The reporting of investigations of this kind is therefore a major function of this journal. However there are also new developments in polymer technology in which degradation processes find positive applications. For example, photodegradable plastics are now available, the recycling of polymeric products will become increasingly important, degradation and combustion studies are involved in the definition of the fire hazards which are associated with polymeric materials and the microelectronics industry is vitally dependent upon polymer degradation in the manufacture of its circuitry. Polymer properties may also be improved by processes like curing and grafting, the chemistry of which can be closely related to that which causes physical deterioration in other circumstances.