INVESTIGATION OF MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF CARBON FIBER REINFORCED POLYMER MATRIX COMPOSITES AS AN ALTERNATIVE MATERIAL FOR WEIGHT GAIN IN HIGH SPEED TRAINS
Ali Gungor Alper Incesu Mustafa Yunus Askin
AbstractIn this study, carbon fiber reinforced epoxy matrix composites were produced as an alternative material to weight gain for high speed train outer panel coatings. Carbon prepreg were used to manufacture directional composite materials composed of 7 layers by vacuum bagging method. Curing process was done at three different pressures (16" = 0.53 atm, 20" = 0.67 atm and 27" = 0.9 atm) and two different curing duration (160 min and 200 min) at 170 º C constant temperatures. Fabric orientation was 0º and 45° alternating layers in directional composites. Deflection measurement, tensile test, 3-point bend test and SEM analyses were performed to analyze the composite materials. Deflection in directional composites were increased with increasing curing pressure but were decreased with increasing curing duration. Also, it was observed that tensile strength, elastic modulus and bending strength of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy matrix composites increased with increasing curing duration and pressure. Finally, the scanning electron microscope images showed that the carbon fibers in the bundle were tightly bound to the epoxy matrix and showed brittle behavior during fracture.