Effect of the Aggressive Environment on the Damage of a Glass Polyester Composite Developed by Hand Layup Process

Abstract

This work treats the behavior of a glass fibre/unsaturated polyester (UP) composite with structural defects subjected to the attack of two corrosive solutions: H2SO4and NaOH. The gravimetric analysis, the uptake mass of the resin, and the interfaces in the composite are established according to the proportion of the matrix/composite. The obtained results showed that, in the acidic solution, the glass fibre and the fibre/matrix interface absorption share is more significant than the alkaline solution. While the Fourier transform infrared analysis (FT-IR) of the UP resin revealed the presence of chemical degradation phenomenon (hydrolysis), the fibre corrosion was characterized by the atomic absorption analysis (AAS). The fibres/matrix interfaces degradation was confirmed by microscopic observations (SEM). The diffusion kinetics of the both acid and alkaline solutions and chemical and mechanical degradation are affected by the presence of the pores in elaborated material.

The Effect of Glass Fiber Storage Time on the Mechanical Response of Polymer Composite

“…Degradation of the composite was therefore monitored in an outdoor environment with fluctuations in temperature and relative humidity (RH) (12–40 °C, 30–100% RH, up to 90 days [ 5 , 6 ]). Elevated temperature is often used in the laboratory to speed up tests in air (250 °C, 180 days [ 7 ]), water (ambient temperature, 180 days [ 8 ] or 50 °C, 100 days [ 9 ]), salt water or seawater (30–60 °C, up to 810 days [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]), and alkaline and acidic solutions (room temperature, 5 and 50 days [ 14 ]). The above research found that the water absorption of fiberglass composites increased with increasing temperature for environments with moisture, water, and seawater.…”

The Impact of the Acidic Environment on the Mechanical Properties of Epoxy Compounds in Different Conditions

“…Moreover, the exposure time was shown to be a determinant of the flexural properties. Moreover, Belloul et al [ 53 ] presented the behavior of the glass fiber/unsaturated polyester (UP) composite with structural defects subjected to the attack of two corrosive solutions: H 2 SO 4 and NaOH. The resistance and ductility losses revealed by the mechanical tests of the samples immersed in the two mediums of immersions are the result of a complex mechanism degradation implementing several phenomena such as the resin hydrolysis, the fiber corrosion, and the degradation of the fiber/matrix interface, in addition to the structural defects due to the implementation technique.…”

“…The effect of bubble based degradation on the physical and structural properties of single wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT)/epoxy resin composite samples was investigated by Hashemi and Mousavi [ 56 ]. Additionally, Belloul et al [ 53 ] underlined that the presence of the pores (of rather significant size) in the material after its elaboration influences the diffusion kinetics of the acid and alkaline solutions and contributes to the mechanical degradation of the material. Moreover, air bubbles appeared on the surface, which made it rougher.…”

An Overview: The Processing Methods of Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (Frps)

“…Besides, the production of the part in harsh environments can lead to the degradation of its mechanical properties due to its exposure. An example of this degradation is the corrosion of glass fibers in the polyester matrix when exposed to NaOH [19]. The most used matrices are epoxy and polyester because they cure at room temperature.…”