Deformation of Cured Polymer Compositional Materials in the Process of Loading Combined with Microwave Heating

An increase in absolute strain and compliance of carbon, glass, and organic plastic samples with epoxy resins under microwave heating was found to be 360–380, 320–336, and 340–318%, respectively. The results confirm a temporary transition of the thermosetting binder within the cured polymer composite material (PCM) to a plastic state, which enables configurational changes in the structure that contribute to improved physical and mechanical properties.