TY - GEN
T1 - Durability of GFRP composite made of epoxy/organoclay nanocomposite
AU - Zhu, H. G.
AU - Leung, Christopher K.Y.
AU - Kim, J. K.
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - With a suitable amount of organoclay introduced into epoxy resin, intercalated/exfoliated epoxy/organoclay nanocomposite showing improved barrier property and thermal stability can be formed. GFRP composite with epoxy/organoclay nanocomposite matrix has been fabricated in this study. The main purpose of our work is to investigate the effect of epoxy/organoclay nanocomposite matrix on durability improvement of GFRP composites. GFRP composite laminates with neat epoxy matrix or 3wt% epoxy/organoclay nanocomposite matrix are conditioned in the following environments: (i) standard laboratory condition; (ii) heating for 1h at 40°C, 50°C, and 60°C; (iii) immersion in alkaline solution at 60°C. After pre-determined periods of conditioning, aged specimens are tested in uniaxial tension to obtain the tensile strength, tensile modulus and failure strain of GFRP composites. Results show that the tensile strength of aged GFRP composites is reduced to different degrees for different environmental exposure condition. However, the degradation rate is reduced when epoxy/organoclay nanocomposite is used as GFRP matrix. This can be attributed to the improved barrier property and thermal stability of the epoxy/organoclay nanocomposite. When GFRP composites are employed in the rehabilitation of concrete structures, the use of epoxy/organoclay nanocomposite matrix is likely to improve the durability of the rehabilitated structure as well.
AB - With a suitable amount of organoclay introduced into epoxy resin, intercalated/exfoliated epoxy/organoclay nanocomposite showing improved barrier property and thermal stability can be formed. GFRP composite with epoxy/organoclay nanocomposite matrix has been fabricated in this study. The main purpose of our work is to investigate the effect of epoxy/organoclay nanocomposite matrix on durability improvement of GFRP composites. GFRP composite laminates with neat epoxy matrix or 3wt% epoxy/organoclay nanocomposite matrix are conditioned in the following environments: (i) standard laboratory condition; (ii) heating for 1h at 40°C, 50°C, and 60°C; (iii) immersion in alkaline solution at 60°C. After pre-determined periods of conditioning, aged specimens are tested in uniaxial tension to obtain the tensile strength, tensile modulus and failure strain of GFRP composites. Results show that the tensile strength of aged GFRP composites is reduced to different degrees for different environmental exposure condition. However, the degradation rate is reduced when epoxy/organoclay nanocomposite is used as GFRP matrix. This can be attributed to the improved barrier property and thermal stability of the epoxy/organoclay nanocomposite. When GFRP composites are employed in the rehabilitation of concrete structures, the use of epoxy/organoclay nanocomposite matrix is likely to improve the durability of the rehabilitated structure as well.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79952309653&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:79952309653
SN - 9780415468503
T3 - Concrete Repair, Rehabilitation and Retrofitting II - Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Concrete Repair, Rehabilitation and Retrofitting, ICCRRR
SP - 423
EP - 424
BT - Concrete Repair, Rehabilitation and Retrofitting II - Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Concrete Repair, Rehabilitation and Retrofitting, ICCRRR
T2 - 2nd International Conference on Concrete Repair, Rehabilitation and Retrofitting, ICCRRR 2008
Y2 - 24 November 2008 through 26 November 2008
ER -