Improved matrix material for high Performance carbon fiber Composite

Aromatic Thermosetting Copolyester

Now a days Composite are use in the manufacturing of automotive Industry Its application can be divided in three general temperate zones: High Temperature including engine block Ambient temperature around the engine block Other ambient temperature

This paper discussed that ATSP can withstand temperature in the vicinity of the combustion Chamber which is much higher than the recommended temperatures of other high temperature engineering Polymers(2600C) Since Composite are the two component systems, the interfacial coefficient of thermal expansion(CTE) mismatch induces localized stress concentration, leading to the formation of microcracks when cycled over a range of temperature The ATSP Composite can exhibit better thermal fatigue resistance

Aromatic Thermosetting copolyesters(ATSP) are a relatively new family of thermosetting polyesters made from relatively low cost materials including p-Hydroxybenzoic acid (pHBA) Trimesic acid(TMA) Hydroquinone (HQ) Isophatalic acid(IPA)

These are the melt processed at 100-2500C, depending on the mol. Weight of the desired oligomer system into a two component acetoxyterminated and carboxylic acid terminated system The oligomer system is then cured at 250-3300C to yield ATSP.

The basic problem is the vitalization of the acetic acid byproduct to form voids are solved by preparing thin ATSP lamina, which permits easy escape of acetic acid These thin laminates can then be consolidated into thick section composite using Interchain Tranesterifiation Reaction(ITR)

One of the salient features of this system is its ability to form adhesive bond even after being cured This is due to the ITR at the interface between cured lamina. Thin laminates of ATSP can be consolidated even after curing by heating under pressure at 3000C to provide low void advanced composite system through ITR.

Finally the ITR yield a cross-linked all aromatic product with excellent thermal, mechanical and adhesion properties ATSP is stable in air up to 3250C and in Nitrogen up to 4250C whereas most thermally stable epoxies decompose at 170-1900C in air or nitrogen Also the moisture pickup of resin is relatively low(0.3% as compared to 2.0% for epoxy) Increasing the potential durability against physical ageing Reference:

http://www.speautomotive.com/SPEA_CD/SPEA2009/pdf/ET/ET-03.pdf