Curing kinetics, mechanical properties and thermomechanical analysis of carbon fiber/epoxy resin laminates with different ply orientations

A carbon fiber/epoxy resin prepreg was tested by DSC, and the phenomenological nth-order and autocatalytic reaction curing kinetic models of the prepreg were established. On this basis, the optimum curing process of the prepreg was obtained. In addition, in order to explore the effect of ply parameters on the mechanical properties of the laminates, the thermomechanical and mechanical properties of the laminates of [0](10), [+ 45/ - 45](5s) and [0/90](5s), prepared by compression molding, were investigated. The results show that the autocatalytic reaction model agrees well with the DSC curves obtained from the experimental data. The curing process of the carbon fiber/epoxy resin prepreg is 130 degrees C /60 + 160 degrees C/30 min. The flexural and impact strength of [0](10) laminates are higher than that of [+ 45/ - 45](5s) and [0/90](5s) laminates. The glass transition temperature (T-g) of the laminates is 142-146 degrees C, and the loss factor of [0](10) laminate is significantly higher than that of [+ 45/ - 45](5s) and [0/90](5 s) laminates. The great differences in the mechanical properties of the laminates are mainly due to the different amounts of 0 degrees fibers, which lead to the different bearing and deformation capacity of the laminates under external force. Graphic abstract