Compressive damage in filament‐wound carbon/carbon composites

Abstract The processing characteristics and the induced compressive damage in filament‐wound carbon/carbon composites were examined. Tubular carbon/phenolic composites were made by the filament winding method. The inside diameter was 25.4 mm and the nominal thickness was 2.5 mm. The cured composites were then carbonized. Three more cycles of matrix densification were repeated. After densification, the composites were graphitized at 2600°C. Compressive tests were then carried out for the cured, carbonized, and graphitized composites. The load was applied directly on the end of the tube. The loading response and the induced damage were studied. Their microscopic fracture behaviors were examined by optical and scanning electron microscopes. With the heating temperature increased, the damage modes shifted from a ductile fracture in the cured composites to a more brittle fracture in the graphitized composites. The resulting strength and stiffness were also decreased significantly with the temperature. Kinking of fibers was the major mode in the cured specimens, while separation of bundles became more prominent in the graphitized specimens. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers