The influence of high and low temperatures on the impact properties of glass-epoxy composites

The aim of this paper is to present the influence of high and low temperatures on the impact properties glass-epoxy composites. The impact strength a, is presented for four different glass-epoxy composite structures at three different temperatures, i.e., at room temperature t = 20 degrees C, at an elevated temperature t = +5 0 degrees C and at a low temperature t = -50 degrees C. Standard mechanical testing was carried out on the composite materials with specific masses of reinforcement of 210 gm(-2) and 550 g m(-2) and orientations 0 degrees/90 degrees and +/- 45 degrees. Micromechanical analysis of the failure was performed in order to determine real models and mechanisms of crack and temperature influence on the impact properties.