Changes in the structure, properties and durability of carbon fiber at an early stage of climatic aging

Startsev O.V., Dvirnaya E.V., Kornienko G.V.
Startsev O.V., Dvirnaya E.V., Kornienko G.V. Changes in the structure, properties and durability of carbon fiber at an early stage of climatic aging // Proceedings of VIAM. 2026. No. 3. DOI: 10.18577/2307-6046-2026-0-3-141-156. URL: https://test.viam.ru/en/journal/2026/3/11
Keywords
carbon fiber, aging, durability, mechanical and thermomechanical properties, structural changes
Abstract

The study aimed to investigate changes in the properties of carbon-fiber reinforced plastic VKU-39/VTkU-2.200 after six months of exposure in the temperate and warm climate of Gelendzhik. Various analysis methods, such as profilometry, gravimetry, thermomechanical analysis, and dynamic mechanical analysis, were used for this purpose. Additionally, interlayer shear tests using the short beam method and longitudinal bending at different loading speeds were conducted. Based on the results of these tests, a thermal activation analysis was performed, which showed high sensitivity in determining durability at an early stage of weathering.

Reference list
  1. Startsev V.O., Antipov V.V., Slavin A.V., Gorbovets M.A. Modern domestic polymer composite materials for aviation industry (review). Aviation materials and technologies, 2023, no. 2 (71), pp. 122–144. Available at: http://www.journal.viam.ru (accessed: August 28, 2025). DOI: 10.18577/2713-0193-2023-0-2-122-144.
  2. Gulyaev I.N., Safronov A.M., Satdinov R.A. Comparison online and offline of prepregs manufacturing technologies and properties of carbon fiber plastics. Trudy VIAM, 2022, no. 6 (112), pp. 49–57. Available at: http://www.viam-works.ru (accessed: August 28, 2025). DOI: 10.18577/2307-6046-2022-0-6-49-57.
  3. Startsev V.O., Slavin A.V. Carbon and glass reinforced polymer based on solventfree binders resistance to the impact of a moderate cold and moderate warm climate. Trudy VIAM, 2021, no. 5 (99), pp. 114–126. Available at: http://www.viam-works.ru (accessed: August 28, 2025). DOI: 10.18577/2307-6046-2021-0-5-114-126.
  4. Veligodskiy I.M., Koval T.V., Gulyaev I.N. Influence of climatic conditions on CFRP VKU-39 after three year outdoor exposition in eight climatic zones. Trudy VIAM, 2023, no. 8 (126), pp. 113–128. Available at: http://www.viam-works.ru (accessed: September 03, 2025). DOI: 10.18577/2307-6046-2023-0-8-113-128.
  5. Koval' T.V., Veligodskii I.M., Gromova A.A. Change in the properties of BSR-3m binder in VKU-46 carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer after prolonged climatic aging. Polymer Science. Series D, 2023, vol. 16, pp. 687–693. DOI: 10.1134/s1995421223030152.
  6. Kablov E.N., Startsev V.O., Laptev A.B. Aging of polymer composite materials. Moscow: NRC «Kurchatov Institute» – VIAM, 2023, 520 p.
  7. Afzal A., Bangash M.K., Hafeez A., Shake K. Aging effects on the mechanical performance of carbon fiber-reinforced composites. International Journal of Polymer Science, 2023, vol. 2023, art. 4379307. DOI: 10.1155/2023/4379307.
  8. Ci S., Wang B., Di C. et al. Effect of ultraviolet aging on properties of epoxy resin and its pultruded fiber-reinforced composite. Polymers, 2025, vol. 17, art. 294. DOI: 10.3390/polym17030294.
  9. Qin G., Fan Q., Mi P. et al. Review of aging mechanisms, mechanical properties, and prediction models of fiber-reinforced composites in natural environments. Polymer Composites, 2024, vol. 45, pp. 14448–14474. DOI: 10.1002/pc.28799.
  10. Wang J., Hota G., Liang R., Liu W. Durability and prediction models of fiber-reinforced polymer composites under various environmental conditions: A critical review. Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 2015, vol. 35, pp. 179–211. DOI: 10.1177/0731684415610920.
  11. Liu X., Su Q., Zhu J., Song X. The aging behavior and life prediction of CFRP rods under a hygrothermal environment. Polymers, 2023, vol. 15, art. 2490. DOI: 10.3390/polym15112490.
  12. Bone J.E., Sims G.D., Maxwell A.S. et al. On the relationship between moisture uptake and mechanical property changes in a carbon fibre/epoxy composite. Journal of Composite Materials, 2022, vol. 56, no. 14, pp. 2189–2199. DOI: 10.1177/00219983221091465.
  13. Shreepannaga A., Vijaya Kini M., Pai D. The ageing effect on static and dynamic mechanical properties of fibre reinforced polymer composites under marine environment – A review. Materials Today: Proceedings, 2022, vol. 52, art. 689–696. DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2021.10.084.
  14. Zhong Y., Cheng M., Zhang X. et al. Hygrothermal durability of glass and carbon fiber reinforced composites – A comparative study. Composite Structures, 2019, vol. 211, pp. 134–143. DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2018.12.034.
  15. Karimi S., Anvari A. Predicting natural aging effects on fatigue life of CFRP–aluminum adhesive joints using machine learning and accelerated aging data. Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology, 2025, vol. 39, pp. 1602–1623. DOI: 10.1080/01694243.2025.2457372.
  16. Petrov M.G., Startsev O.V., Lebedev M.P. Study of the strength of structural carbon fiber reinforced plastics under tension, compression, and interlaminar shear. Deformatsiya i razrushenie materialov, 2025, no. 3, pp. 19–27. DOI: 10.31044/1814-4632-2025-3-19-27.
  17. Blaznov A.N., Markin V.B., Savin V.F. et al. Method for studying the durability of fiberglass construction reinforcement. Umnye kompozity v stroitelstve, 2021, vol. 2, pp. 32–45. DOI: 10.52957/27821919_2021_3_32.
  18. Cha J.Y., Yoon S.B. Determination of shift factor for long-term life prediction of carbon/fiber epoxy composites using the time-temperature superposition principle. Functional Composites and Structures, 2022, vol. 4, art. 015003. DOI: 10.1088/2631-6331/ac529e.
  19. Startsev O.V., Startsev V.O., Kogan A.M., Vardanyan A.M. Сhanges in the plasticizing effect of moisture during climatic aging of polymer composite materials. Russian Metallurgy (Metally), 2024, vol. 2024, pp. 413–422. DOI: 10.1134/S0036029524700733.
  20. Startsev O.V., Skirta A.A., Startsev V.O., Valevin E.O., Kogan A.M. Ageing of VKU-39 carbon plastic under moderately warm and tropical climate conditions. 1. Changes of strength indicators. Science. Series D, 2025, vol. 178, pp. 382–386. DOI: 10.1134/S1995421225700236.
  21. Startsev O.V., Skirta A.A., Startsev V.O., Valevin E.O., Kogan A.M. Aging of the VKU-39 carbon plastic under moderately warm and tropical climate conditions. 2. Change in physical properties. Polymer Science. Series D, 2025, vol. 18, pp. 387–391. DOI: 10.1134/S1995421225700248.
  22. State Standard R ISO 4287–2014. Geometrical product characteristics (GPS). Surface structure. Profile method. Terms, definitions, and parameters of surface structure. Moscow: Standartinform, 2019, 20 p.
  23. Startsev V.O., Lebedev M.P., Frolov A.S. Measurement of surface relief indicators in the study of aging and corrosion of materials. 1. Russian and foreign standards. Vse materialy. Entsiklopedicheskiy spravochnik, 2018, no. 6, pp. 32–38.
  24. Startsev V.O., Valevin E.O., Gulyaev A.I. The influence of polymer composite materials’ surface weathering on its mechanical properties. Trudy VIAM, 2020, no. 8 (90), pp. 64–76. Available at: http://www.viam-works.ru (accessed: September 05, 2025). DOI: 10.18577/2307-6046-2020-0-8-64-76.
  25. ISO 6721-11. Plastics – Determination of dynamic mechanical properties – Part 11: Glass transition temperature. ISO, 2012, 22 р.
  26. ISO 11359-2. Plastics – Thermomechanical analysis (TMA) – Part 2. Determination of coefficient of linear thermal expansion and glass transition temperature. ISO, 1999, 16 р.
  27. State Standard 32659–2014 (ISO 14130:1997). Polymer Composites. Test Methods. Determination of Apparent Interlaminar Shear Strength by the Short Beam Test Method. Moscow: Standartinform, 2014, 16 p.
  28. State Standard R 56810–2015. Polymer composites. Method of bending test of flat specimens. Moscow: Standartinform, 2016, 20 p.
  29. Ruiz-Iglesias R., Cappello R., Thomsen O.T., Dulieu-Barton J.M. Estimating the coefficients of thermal expansion of carbon fibre composite materials using infrared thermography. Composites: Part A, 2025, vol. 198, art. 109094. DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2025.109094.
  30. Dong C., Li K., Jiang Y. et al. Evaluation of thermal expansion coefficient of carbon fiber reinforced composites using electronic speckle interferometry. Optics Express, 2018, vol. 26, pp. 531–543. DOI: 10.1364/OE.26.000531.
  31. Crank J. The mathematics of diffusion. Second ed. Oxford: Clarendon press, 1975, 414 p.