Nonmetallic Materials and Composites at Low Temperature

This, the second special topical conference on the properties of Non-Metallic Materials at Low Temperatures, was sponsored by the International Cryogenic Materials Conference Board. The potential for plastics materials in the field of cryogenics is vast and as yet only partly explored. In addition, many other materials, which qualify for the title non-metallic but are not 'plastics', have numerous possible outlets in low temperature technology. This conference aimed at providing a forum, whereby specialists from Industry, the Universities and from Government sponsored Institutions could assemble to discuss the extent of our current knowledge. As it transpired, the meeting was also to high­ light the considerable gaps that still exist in our fundamental understanding of the low temperature behaviour of these materials. On this theme, during the course of the conference, a reference was made to an almost forgotten quotation by Lord Kelvin, who said: "When you cannot measure what you are speaking about, when you cannot express in numbers, your knowledge is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind; it may be the beginning of knowledge, but you have scarcely in your thoughts advanced to the stage of a science, whatever the matter be." This simple statement sums up the aims, objectives and hopefully the achievements of this conference. To discuss and disseminate the current knowledge on non-metallic materials in order that realistic predictions of in-service performance may be made.

Table of Contents:
Thermal Properties of Crystalline Polymers at Low Temperatures.- Thermal Conductivity at Low Temperatures in Semicrystalline Polymers.- Elastic Nonlinearity of Vitreous Silica at Low Temperatures.- Ultrasonic Absorption in Polymethylmethacrylate at Low Temperatures.- Radiation Damage in Thin Sheet Fibreglass Insulators.- Epoxide Resins for Use at Low Temperatures.- Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Poly(methacrylates) at Low Temperatures.- Dielectric Loss Due to Antioxidants in Polyolefins.- Low Temperature Fracture Measurements on Polyethylene in Comparison with Epoxy Resins.- Fatigue Test of Epoxide Resin at Low Temperatures.- Lap Test of Epoxide Resin at Cryogenic Temperatures.- Cohesive Strength of Amorphous Pol3nners at Low and High Temperatures..- The Thermal Conductivity and Thermal Expansion of Non-Metallic Composite Materials at Low Temperatures.- Nonlinear Stresses and Displacements of the Fibres and Matrix in a Radially Loaded Circular Composite Ring.- The Strain Energy Release Rate of Glass Fibre-Reinforced Polyester Composite.- Recent European Work on the Nondestructive Testing of Composite Materials.- Physical Properties of Epoxide Resin/Glass Fibre Composites at Low Temperatures.- Charpy Impact Test of Cloth Reinforced Epoxide Resin at Low Temperatures..- Nonmetallic and Composite Materials as Solid Superleaks.- Low Temperature Properties of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Epoxide Resins.- The Use of Graphite/Epoxy Composites in Aerospace Structures Subject to Low Temperatures.- Standardizing Nonmetallic Composite Materials for Cryogenic Applications.- Special Applications of Nonmetallic Materials in Low Temperature Technology.- Machined Gap Laminates for Components in Heavy Electrical Engineering and Their Use at Very Low Temperatures.- Mass Transport into a Three-Component Composite Subjected to a Temperature Gradient.- Panel Discussion.- Fundamentals of Nonmetallic Materials at Low Temperatures: Panel Discussion Summary.- Conference Summary: Fundamental Aspects and Applications of Nonmetallic Materials at Low Temperatures.- Contributor Index.- Material Index.