Carbon Fiber Composites, Main Engineering Elastic Constants and Macromechanical Characterization

Unidirectional epoxy matrix composite with carbon fibers was cured by hot pressing the commercial prepreg Hexcel M39 in a mold. Macromechanical characteristics of tested coupons with different fiber content and density, were determined by standard tensile, flexure, interlaminar shear strength, and in-plane shear strength tests. The results obtained from different mechanical tests have been correlated, and have been compared with literature data. The reliability of the results for mechanical properties of tested composites as constructional material have been evaluated.