Cryogenic temperature effects on the mechanical properties of carbon, aramid, and PBO fibers

This study examines the effects of cryogenic temperatures on the mechanical properties of carbon, aramid, and poly(p-phenylene-2, 6-benzobisoxazole) (PBO) fibers. Although the mechanical properties are documented for these fibers at ambient and elevated temperatures, there is an absence of data in the open literature for how these fibers behave at very low temperatures. To evaluate the mechanical properties, the ASTM standard method for testing at ambient temperature was used as a baseline. The low temperature tests were conducted inside a double walled cryogenic chamber to evaluate the fiber performance at 100K. Fiber properties at low temperatures displayed differences from room temperature properties in the form of increased ultimate tensile strength (UTS), decreased in elongation to failure, and increased Young's Modulus. The change in properties due to the effect of temperature was more pronounced in fibers with a higher degree of crystallinity.