ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE THERMOPLASTIC POLYIMIDE RESINS AND COMPOSITES PART II- ESTABLISHMENT OF BASELINE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

摘要

The authors have previously reported the fabrication and initial electrical characterization of arnnew class of highly electrically conductive thermoplastic polyimide resins and fiber reinforcedrncomposites. Very high conductivities for both the resin phases and the fiber reinforced materialsrnwere reported. However, the sample size was limited, and only a few general observations aboutrnthe mechanical properties were made.rnThe objectives of this phase of the work were to repeat and seek improvements in the processesrnof creating these conductive thermoplastic polyimide resin films, prepreg sheets and compositernbars; and to measure and correlate their respective electrical and mechanical performances. Itrnwas desired to observe if the initial results could be replicated, and to establish a baseline ofrnperformance and failure analysis, from which product strengths and weaknesses could bernidentified and characterized for further improvement.rnThis results of this phase of the work established that high electrical conductivities could indeedrnbe replicated. It was also learned that a variety of highly conductive fiber reinforced compositerncould be produced. Though the mechanical properties of these composites were not yetrnoptimized, the initial identification and understanding of the critical failure interfaces and modesrnprovided the information that points the direction needed to lead to an optimization of thesernhighly electrically conductive, high temperature resins and composites.rnWhen mature, this technology will permit the design of higher temperature performance, spacernqualified composite structures that have tailored electromagnetic and mechanical structurernproperties.