Creep test of polymer-matrix 3-D braided composites

The long-term creep behavior of polymer-matrix 3-D braided composites was studied by using the tensile creep test method, and the effect of braiding structure, braiding angle and fiber volume fraction were discussed. The creep curve appears as expected, and can be defined two phases, namely, the primary phase and the secondary phase. For each sample, strain increases with time rapidly, and then the strain rate decreases and appears to approach a constant rate of change (steady-state creep). The experiment results show that the creep resistant properties are improved while the braiding angle decreases or the fiber volume fraction increases, and that the five-directional braiding structure offers better creep resistant properties than the four-directional braiding structure.