Investigation on the laser irradiation stability of epoxy resin-based composites with different fiber structures

Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites are increasingly being utilized in laser environments due to their superior performance, making the study of CFRP stability under laser irradiation of paramount importance. Comparing the morphologies and monitoring parameters of the four typical fiber-reinforced epoxy composites under the same experimental conditions. This study identified key factors affecting the laser irradiation stability from multiple perspectives, including 3D internal morphology, phase transformation, and thermal analysis. Aramid fibers exhibit inferior temperature resistance compared to carbon fibers, resulting in severe linear ablation on the surface of samples. Although the continuous fiber samples have better mechanical properties than short-chopped fiber samples, its inadequate energy dissipation capability results in higher back surface temperatures. Furthermore, this study constructed finite element models to simulate the real-time evolution of damage degree of CFRP with different structures during the ablation process. The study has bridged knowledge gaps on the laser irradiation stability of composites with different fiber structures, offering valuable insights and theoretical support for improving CFRP safety in laser-intensive environments.