Effect of diluents and/or fortifier on the glass fiber–epoxy composites

Abstract

SynopsisThe glass fiber-epoxy composites were fabricated with the E-type glass cloth and diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) using 12% diethylenetriamine (DETA) as catalyst on the basis of DGEBA. The properties were modified by incorporating diluents such as epoxidized 2,2,6,6-tetramethylolcyclohexanol (ETMC) and 1,4-butandioldiglycidyl ether (BDDE) with/without 20 parts per 100 g of a condensation product of phenyglycidylether and 4-hydroxyacetanilide (PGEHA) employed as fortifier. The characterization of these epoxy laminates includes resistance to chemical reagents, dynamic mechanical analysis, and mechanical properties like flexural strength, impact strength, and hardness. The dielectrical properties such as breakdown strength, dielectric constant ( d ) , dielectric loss (c"), and loss tangent (tan6) were estimated.

Comparing reinforcement strategies for epoxy networks using reactive and non‐reactive fortifiers

“…Antiplasticizers similar to the ones first identified have been utilized in several other polymers such as polyesters, 2 celloluse acetates,2 polyphenylene‐ethers,3, 4 polysulfones,5 and epoxies 6–12. Each of these polymers modified with an antiplasticizer show similar improvements in modulus and yield stress.…”

Effect of aggressive environments on composite properties

“…A slight color change and loss in gloss for specimens exposed to lubricating oil and fuel (70 : 30) are observed. Thus, in specimens treated with different chemical reagents mentioned above, debonding or deformation of bonds takes place, which accounts for the reduction in mechanical properties 7. Exposure of samples to distilled water and seawater also showed reduction in mechanical properties.…”

“…The UPE resin was mixed thoroughly with cobalt naphthanate, followed by the addition of MEKP. These mixing processes are highly exothermic in nature 7…”

“…The epoxy and unsaturated polyester (UPE) cured resin matrices have gained major acceptance for the fabrication of high‐performance composites in the areas of space,1, 2 defense,3, 4 and civilian applications 5–7. There is limited information about the effect of aggressive environments, such as heat ageing, 95% relative humidity, lubricating oil, fuel, and saltwater spray on composites 7–10.…”

“…The epoxy and unsaturated polyester (UPE) cured resin matrices have gained major acceptance for the fabrication of high‐performance composites in the areas of space,1, 2 defense,3, 4 and civilian applications 5–7. There is limited information about the effect of aggressive environments, such as heat ageing, 95% relative humidity, lubricating oil, fuel, and saltwater spray on composites 7–10. In this article, the authors have reported physical properties like Shore D hardness, density, and porosity; chemical resistivity; mechanical properties, such as tensile, flexural, and interlaminar shear strength (ILSS); and thermal properties like the T g of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol‐A–diethyl triamine (DGEBA–DETA) and UPE–cobalt naphthanate–MEKP‐based glass‐reinforced composites before and after subjection to aggressive environments.…”