Abstract
Hexcel AS-4 12K carbon fibers were sized with two different thermoplastic sizing agents. The sizing agents tested were K-90 poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) and modified polyhydroxyether of bisphenol A (Phenoxy™). In addition, Hexcel AS-4 36K carbon fibers sized commercially with the standard G′ were tested. The sized carbon fibers were processed into composites utilizing a pilot scale pultruder and a pultrudable vinyl–ester resin. Tension-tension fatigue tests were performed on the composites at a frequency of 10 Hz . Residual stiffness and S–N curves were generated. The slopes of the normalized S–N were different for the G′ sizing and the thermoplastic sizings albeit the slopes of the two thermoplastic sizings were similar. Moisture absorption studies were performed on the composites by immersing the samples in tap water at 65°C . The diffusivity as well as maximum moisture content was observed to be sensitive to the type of sizing. In addition to the fiber-reinforced composites, blends of the sizing (PVP a...
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