Objectives:

Marine grade woven roving glass/vinyl ester composite is about three times stronger and less than 0ne-half stiffer than steel. Toray's T700 carbon fibers are less expensive and can offer superior mechanical performance. The objective is to evaluate T700 carbon fiber composite and compare it with glass fiber/vinyl ester and marine steel.

Approach and Results:

Woven roving (FGI - 1854)and stitch bonded (FGI - 1800) E- glass fabric and Devold's LT650 stitch bonded T700 carbon fabric were consolidated using Dow's Derakane 510A-40 brominated vinyl ester matrix using vaccum assisted resin transfer moulding. Densities of the three composites were 1.98g/cc, 1.83g/cc and 1.57g/cc respectively while steel's was 7.8g/cc. Tension, compression, in-plane shear, interlaminar shear and fracture properties were determined using ASTM standard tests. Superior properties of Carbon/Vinyl ester compositethan glass composite and steel is shown in bar chart.

Conclusions:

T700 Carbon/VE composite, when compared to steel is 10 times stronger in tension and 4 times stronger in compression; About 1.5 times stiffer both in tension and compression.