| Stress-rupture life is the time a composite can survive under load at an assigned risk level. The stress-rupture lifetimes of high-strength PAN-based carbon fibers are important to the development and use of lightweight composite structures such as composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs). To quantify appropriate stress-rupture risk levels based on available models, quantification of single fiber variability and lifetime is necessary to understand the variability observed in larger composite structures.; In the present work, three PAN-based carbon fibers commonly used in COPV technology were examined, Hexcel IM9, Toray T700, and Toray T1000. The diameter of each fiber type was quantified by measuring samples in the scanning electron microscope and failure loads were determined by performing tensile tests on single fibers. Weibull statistics were used to describe the results. Fractography was performed on IM9 and T1000 fibers after tensile failure. The fracture surfaces are consistent with crack growth from a volume or surface defect.; Stress-rupture testing was completed at two stress levels at each fiber type, 97% and 93% of the mean fiber strength for each of the fiber types. The results indicate that differences in stress-rupture life performance exist between the three fiber types. Differences in stress ratio of between 5 and 10% were observed, which may translate to significant difference in stress-rupture life behavior for larger composite structures. The results indicate that a relationship may exist between strength and stress-rupture life. However, if this relationship exists, it is not a simple one, and the relationship is likely complicated by manufacturing. |
