Experimental study on the flexural properties of 3D integrated woven spacer composites at room and subzero temperatures

The flexural behavior of the 3D integrated woven spacer composites with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer face sheets are performed with epoxy and polyester matrix in the warp direction. The static loading of foam core carbon/epoxy and carbon/polyester composite sandwich panels in three-point flexural test was characterized at room temperature (23℃) and at liquid nitrogen temperature (−40℃). Macro-fracture morphology and progress have been examined to understand the deformation and failure mechanism. Significant increases in the flexural strength with brittle type core shear failure were observed at low temperatures as compared with the corresponding room temperature behavior. The performance of the epoxy-based composite is compared to the polyester one. Significant changes in the flexural properties of the composites have been found, first related to the temperature and then to the resin type. The flexural properties of the epoxy-based composites were affected greatly by temperature and exhibited higher flexural performance than polyester-based composites at low temperatures.