TY - JOUR
T1 - Degradation of glass fiber-reinforced plastic composites containing nanoclay in alkaline environment
AU - Zhu, Hong Gang
AU - Leung, Christopher K.Y.
AU - Kim, Jang Kyo
AU - Liu, Ming Yang
N1 - Funding Information:
Financial support of the work by the Research Grant Council of Hong Kong SAR [Grant Number: UST616107] and the Science and Technology Project of Shenzhen [Grant Number: SY200806270091A] is gratefully acknowledged. The materials and technical assistance from the Advanced Engineering Materials Facility (AEMF) and the Materials Characterization and Preparation Facility (MCPF), HKUST are much appreciated.
PY - 2011/10
Y1 - 2011/10
N2 - The durability of glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) composites made from neat epoxy and organoclay nanocomposite in the alkaline environment is studied. Accelerated tests are performed by immersing the composite plates in the alkaline solution at 60°C. The tensile test and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis test are performed to evaluate the residual tensile properties and thermo-mechanical properties of aged GFRPs, while Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, micro-indenter, and scanning electron microscopy are employed to characterize the deterioration of the matrix, fiber, and fiber-matrix interface in GFRPs. The tensile properties and storage modulus of the GFRP composites are reduced with increasing aging time. Interestingly, the reduction is significantly mitigated when the organoclay nanocomposite is used as the matrix material. Degradation of matrix material, weakening of fiber-matrix interfacial bonding, and corrosion of glass fibers contribute to the property reduction in both composites. The excellent barrier characteristics of organoclay in the matrix are responsible for the superior performance of the GFRPs made from nanocomposite matrix, which in turn reduces the degree of corrosion of glass fibers.
AB - The durability of glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) composites made from neat epoxy and organoclay nanocomposite in the alkaline environment is studied. Accelerated tests are performed by immersing the composite plates in the alkaline solution at 60°C. The tensile test and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis test are performed to evaluate the residual tensile properties and thermo-mechanical properties of aged GFRPs, while Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, micro-indenter, and scanning electron microscopy are employed to characterize the deterioration of the matrix, fiber, and fiber-matrix interface in GFRPs. The tensile properties and storage modulus of the GFRP composites are reduced with increasing aging time. Interestingly, the reduction is significantly mitigated when the organoclay nanocomposite is used as the matrix material. Degradation of matrix material, weakening of fiber-matrix interfacial bonding, and corrosion of glass fibers contribute to the property reduction in both composites. The excellent barrier characteristics of organoclay in the matrix are responsible for the superior performance of the GFRPs made from nanocomposite matrix, which in turn reduces the degree of corrosion of glass fibers.
KW - alkaline environment
KW - degradation mechanisms
KW - durability
KW - epoxy-organoclay nanocomposite
KW - glass fiber-reinforced plastic
KW - improvement
KW - material characterization
KW - mechanical properties
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80053296414&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0021998311401064
DO - 10.1177/0021998311401064
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:80053296414
SN - 0021-9983
VL - 45
SP - 2147
EP - 2156
JO - Journal of Composite Materials
JF - Journal of Composite Materials
IS - 21
ER -