Abstract
Polymer matrix composites used in high temperature applications experience material property degradation due to thermal oxidation. In the present paper, the oxidation profiles of the isothermally aged PMR-15 specimens are studied using an optical microscope. Results show that the oxidized specimen exhibits distinguished heterogeneous structure. In addition, the spatial dependent elastic and viscoelastic properties of PMR-15 specimens isothermally aged at various environmental conditions are probed through nanoindentation tests. Results indicate that both elastic modulus and creep strain rate sensitivity of the oxidized surfaces are higher than those of the unoxidized interiors. These results are the consequences of chemical and physical changes that occur during oxidation including chemical bond breakage and outgassing of low-molecular weight species.
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