No abstract

No abstract

This paper presents a long-term experimental investigation of E-glass/epoxy composites’ durability exposed to seawater at different temperatures. The thermoset composite samples were exposed to 23 °C, 45 °C and 65 °C seawater for a prolonged exposure time of 11 years. The mechanical performance as a function of exposure time was evaluated and a strength-based technique was used to assess the durability of the composites. The experimental results revealed that the tensile strength of E-glass/epoxy composite was reduced by 8.2%, 29.7%, and 54.4% after immersion in seawater for 11 years at 23 °C, 45 °C, and 65 °C, respectively. The prolonged immersion in seawater resulted in the plasticization and swelling in the composite. This accelerated the rate of debonding between the fibers and matrix. The failure analysis was conducted to investigate the failure mode of the samples. SEM micrographs illustrated a correlation between the fiber/matrix debonding, potholing, fiber pull-out, river line marks and matrix cracking with deterioration in the tensile characteristics of the thermoset composite.

No abstract

Composite materials are being used in many industrial applications such as automobile, aerospace, marine, oil and gas industries due to their high strength to weight ratio. The long-term effect of sustained loads and environmental factors that include exposure to UV light, temperature, and moisture have been under investigation by many researchers. The major objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of harsh environment (e.g. seawater and high temperature) on the structural properties of E-glass epoxy composite materials. These effects were studied in terms of seawater absorption, permeation of salt and contaminants, chemical and physical bonds at the interface and degradation in mechanical properties. Samples were immersed in seawater at room temperature (23°C), 65°C and 90°C for the duration of 6 months. Results show that seawater absorption increased with immersion time at 23°C and 65°C, whereas the weight of the specimens decreased at 90°C. The moisture causes swelling at 23°C and 65°C and breakdown of chemical bonds between fiber and matrix at 90°C. It is observed that high temperature accelerates the degradation of the E-glass epoxy composite. At 90°C, the tensile strength of E-glass epoxy sharply decreased by 72.92% but no significant change was observed in modulus of elasticity of the composite.