Effects of gamma irradiation and post-irradiation annealing on carbon/epoxy UDC properties deduced by methods of local loading

Hardness and Young’s modulus of the matrix and fibers in carbon/epoxy gamma irradiated and annealed composites were investigated using nanoindentation technique. The Vickers microhardness of the tested composites after irradiation and annealing was studied, as well. Gamma irradiation to various doses (5–27 MGy) of UDC plates, were followed by thermal treatments of irradiated coupons at 180 and 250 °C, in vacuum. The measured changes of nano and micro properties were correlated to glass transition temperatures, as well as the delamination toughness changes, determined earlier on the same material. The established irradiation and annealing effects on nanoindentation properties and Vickers mocrohardness were analyzed as a function of the matrix plasticity change. An attempt was made to assess the contribution of chain scission mechanism and the change in plasticity mechanism on the property changes from irradiation and subsequent thermal treatments.