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Abstract: The cure kinetics of a thermally mendable polymer based on Diels-Alder (DA) and retro-Diels-Alder (rDA) reactions, mendomer 401, was investigated using dynamic differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The resulting behavior was modeled using a conventional cure kinetic model for thermosetting polymers. A composite panel with two layers of carbon fabric and mendomer 401 was fabricated following the cure cycle suggested by the cure kinetics model. Micro-indentation tests were performed to investigate mechanical properties and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) was conducted to study thermal behavior and to find the trigger temperature for healing. Self-healing behavior of the carbon fiber/mendomer composite was demonstrated using electrical resistive heating over the glass transition temperature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Thermoplastic differs in crystallinity depending on the manufacturing conditions such as temperature and cooling rate, which affect the mechanical properties of the thermoplastic-based composites. In this work, the crystallinity of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was varied according to the cooling rate to investigate the mechanical properties of PET matrix-based carbon fiber (CF)/PET composites. The thermal characteristics and crystallinity were analyzed through the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The mechanical behavior of CF/PET composites with different degrees of crystallinity was studied with varied temperature conditions. The failure modes of the fractured CF/PET composites were observed by using a digital microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM). As a result, the crystallized CF/PET composites were improved 11.6 times higher in in-plane shear (±45° laminated) strength and 3.78 times higher in shear modulus than that of amorphous CF/PET composites at high temperature. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]