Examination of the effects of reinforcement type, production method and seawater aging on the impact strength of composites developed for marine industry

Abstract

Metals and wood have been used extensively in the marine industry since ancient times, but many metals are susceptible to corrosion, particularly because seawater contains a high concentration of salt. Conversely, since composite materials lower production costs and enhance the vehicle's structural qualities, they have become increasingly popular for use in marine vehicle bodies, particularly in the last 40 years. In this study, E-glass reinforced composite structures are designed and produced by two different production methods (hand lay-up and vacuum infusion). E-glass woven fabric and E-glass carded fiber web are used as reinforcement materials, while epoxy is used as resin material. Half of the composite samples are kept in seawater taken from the Marmara Sea for a month to monitor the aging effect of seawater. Then, the impact strength of samples treated and untreated with seawater is examined, and the effects of reinforcement material, production method and seawater treatment on the mechanical properties of the samples are discussed. The findings prove that especially 3-layer woven fabric reinforced composites show the best impact resistance value with 0% water absorption rate. Additionally, it has been observed that aging with sea water slightly reduces the impact strength of the material.