Abstract
Polymer composites in marine structures that operate under seawater environment may be seriously affected, reducing durability estimates. This work aims at evaluating the effect of seawater exposure at 80 °C for 7–28 days on filament-wound glass fiber/epoxy composite cylinders partially cured by passing saturated steam through them just after winding seeking a faster curing route. The winding angle is varied (±55, ±65 and ± 75) and some of the cylinders are later post-cured for comparison. The unaged partially cured specimens do not reach complete curing, with a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 132 °C, below the Tg for the other samples (154–159 °C). Fully cured cylinders present mechanical properties slightly higher than partially cured ones. Moreover, aging in seawater for 7 days enhances the cross-linking degree of epoxy, with a positive effect on both hoop tensile strength and stiffness. Aging is, however, not critical for the radial compressive properties.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 100517 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Composites Communications |
| Volume | 22 |
| Early online date | 02 Oct 2020 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2020 |
Access to Document
- Curing and seawater aging effects on mechanical and physical properties of glass/epoxy filament wound cylinders
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