Effects of air thermal cycling on low-velocity impact property of T700/bismaleimide composites

Carbon fiber(T700)/bismaleimide (HT280) composites were performed by air thermal cycles experiments from -60 ℃ to 180 ℃. The low-velocity impact property and mass loss rate of materials were tested before and after air thermal cycles, respectively. Internal damage condition of materials after impact was analyzed using ultrasonic C-scanning. The experimental results show that the mass loss rate rises rapidly and then levels off with increasing air thermal cycles. The average damage area size of sample before and after air thermal cycles increases and the fracture mode varies with the increase of low-velocity impact energy. The average damage area size and absorbed energy of sample after air thermal cycles are bigger than the ones of sample in original state when subjected to the same low-velocity impact energy.