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Western Kentucky University

Degradation Product Analysis of Bismaleimide Composite

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This study evaluates the thermal and oxidative stabilities of a bismaleimide (BMI) polymer composite reinforced with an intermediate modulus graphite fiber, Cytec®5260/IM7. The composite is aged in helium, nitrogen, and air at elevated temperatures up to 600°C. Its weight change is followed thermogravimetrically for stability assessment. The effect of aging gas environment is also studied. The use of on-line gas cell fourier transform IR spectrometer (FTIR) and mass spectrometer (MS) allows for the identification of decomposition products by evolved gas analysis. This combination of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and evolved gas analysis by FTIR and MS yields complementary information regarding pyrolysis and oxidative degradation products. Based on the TGA-FTIR-MS results, the degradation pathways are explored, which may be used for developing new polymer composites having improved stabilities for high temperature aircraft engine applications.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Department of Chemistry
Year
1996

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Zhong, Wendy

Subjects

dc:subject × 1

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/798
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:digitalcommons.wku.edu:theses-1801

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Western Kentucky University
Base URL
digitalcommons.wku.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Zhong, Wendy. Degradation Product Analysis of Bismaleimide Composite. 1996. https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/798