New moisture study improves understanding of materials
Carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) are often used in the manufacture of artefacts that will be utilised in the aerospace industry. CFRP are lightweight and durable-two properties that are of utmost consideration for these materials. Yet understanding the behavioural influence moisture expansion and retraction has on these materials is a crucial aspect for which there is as yet, neither a comprehensive understanding nor a complete standardisation of values. To accommodate this shortcoming, a European research facility has undertaken to explore how moisture expansion and retraction may adversely affect the performance of artefacts composed of carbon fibre reinforced plastics. Since dimensional stability and other performance values are influenced by moisture in polymeric matrices, the value of these influences needs to be thoroughly understood. In order to do so, both new production methods and testing facilities to determine moisture influence were established. The facility makes it possible to measure moisture desorption within a resolution of 0.1 micrometers, thus providing accurate detail on length variations. It is also possible to get bi-axial measurements as well as adapt the facility to measure complex structures such as piping. Several other measurement methods were employed such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance-spectroscopy and non-invasive Magnetic Resonance to study hydration properties at the molecular level. Aside from obtaining these readings, the study was also able to derive readings on the physical-chemical properties of a variety of CFRP types, determining characteristic defects and performance values such as affinity for water uptake. Hydration/dehydration studies on CFRP create promising potential not only for aerospace applications, but also for a variety of other interests where composite plastics play a feature role. The automobile and the medical industry are two examples where the research could have additional benefit. Currently the developers are looking for further research assistance, but offer consultancy on the results they've delivered thus far.