The influence of high and low temperatures on the impact properties of glass–epoxy composites

The aim of this paper is to present the influence of high and low temperatures on the impact properties glass–epoxy composites. The impact strength an is presented for four different glass–epoxy composite structures at three different temperatures, i.e., at room temperature t = 20 °C, at an elevated temperature t = +50 °C and at a low temperature t = –50 °C. Standard mechanical testing was carried out on the composite materials with specific masses of reinforcement of 210 g m-2 and 550 g m-2 and orientations 0°/90° and ±45°. Micromechanical analysis of the failure was performed in order to determine real models and mechanisms of crack and temperature influence on the impact properties.