Ageing of a carbon epoxy composite for aeronautic applications

It is possible to simulate the weight loss and the density increase of an epoxy matrix induced by oxidation with a kinetic model of radical chain oxidation coupled with the equation of oxygen diffusion. In this paper, we checked this kinetic model for UD composite samples and showed that it allows the calculation of the weight loss taking into account two diffusion coefficients of oxygen, the first in the parallel direction to fibres and the second in the transverse direction. Our simulation tool is valid in the validity domain of Arrhenius law and if the crack density remains under a critical value. The carbon fibres do not show a specific effect on the weight loss induced by oxidation at the ageing temperature under consideration.