Evaluation of Technical and Economic Efficiency of Polymer Composite Materials With Two-Phase Reinforcement Scheme

To achieve high deformation-strength characteristics of polymer composite materials (PCM), various methods are used to purposefully change their structure by modifying the binder with compatible and incompatible additives. The paper presents a fundamentally new approach to the formation of the PCM structure. This approach consists in the additional reinforcement of fibrous composites with monomeric or elastomeric materials that do not enter into chemical interaction with the binder material, and therefore retain their original state of aggregation and a set of performance properties in the composite. These materials in the structure of the composite represent an independent liquid phase. The scheme of reinforcement with the material of the liquid phase is determined based on the direction and nature of the acting loads. Molding of PCM with a two-phase reinforcement scheme is carried out by vacuum forming using cold curing prepregs. The main task of liquid phase materials in the composite structure is not to accumulate defects during deformation and to provide stress relaxation. According to the results of the complex of performed researches it is established that additional reinforcement of PCM with materials of liquid phase of different chemical nature allows to obtain unique structural materials possessing a complex of difficultly combined properties: high deformation and strength characteristics under static and cyclic loading, including under conditions of ultra-low temperatures (up to -50°C). In this research, dimethacrylate triethylene glycol, silicone sealant and synthetic wax were used as liquid phase materials. This paper presents the rationale for the selection of the liquid phase material of the PCM matrix with a two-phase reinforcement scheme according to a set of evaluation criteria using the generalized Harrington desirability function index.