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Title: Degradation of graphite/polymer composites in seawater

Abstract

Glass-reinforced plastics have a substantial history of use in sea water. With the advent of high-performance graphite fibers offering greater stiffness than glass, some marine engineering applications may be implemented where glass was unsuitable. However, the nobility of graphite in the galvanic series makes it an extremely efficient cathode when coupled with metals in seawater. Degradation of the cathodic composite material is an unexpected result of the corrosion chemistry in natural seawater. Deep submergence of composite materials introduces another potential degradative mechanism in seawater due to an increase moisture uptake by damage-dependent mechanisms. In this paper other environmental exposure to sunlight, deep submergence and cyclic thermal changes which show potential for degradation of composites are discussed.

Authors:
 [1]
  1. Dept. of Ocean Engineering, Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, RI (US)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
5322586
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Energy Resources Technology; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 113:4; Journal ID: ISSN 0195-0738
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 42 ENGINEERING; COMPOSITE MATERIALS; CORROSION RESISTANCE; PERFORMANCE; REINFORCED PLASTICS; SEAWATER; CORROSIVE EFFECTS; CATHODES; CATHODIC PROTECTION; CORROSION PROTECTION; ENGINEERING; FIBERS; GLASS; GRAPHITE; MATERIALS TESTING; POLYMERS; THERMAL CYCLING; CARBON; ELECTRODES; ELEMENTAL MINERALS; ELEMENTS; HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS; MATERIALS; MINERALS; NONMETALS; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; PETROCHEMICALS; PETROLEUM PRODUCTS; PLASTICS; REINFORCED MATERIALS; SYNTHETIC MATERIALS; TESTING; WATER; 360604* - Materials- Corrosion, Erosion, & Degradation; 423000 - Engineering- Marine Engineering- (1980-)

Citation Formats

Tucker, W C. Degradation of graphite/polymer composites in seawater. United States: N. p., 1991. Web. doi:10.1115/1.2905910.
Tucker, W C. Degradation of graphite/polymer composites in seawater. United States. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2905910
Tucker, W C. 1991. "Degradation of graphite/polymer composites in seawater". United States. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2905910.
@article{osti_5322586,
title = {Degradation of graphite/polymer composites in seawater},
author = {Tucker, W C},
abstractNote = {Glass-reinforced plastics have a substantial history of use in sea water. With the advent of high-performance graphite fibers offering greater stiffness than glass, some marine engineering applications may be implemented where glass was unsuitable. However, the nobility of graphite in the galvanic series makes it an extremely efficient cathode when coupled with metals in seawater. Degradation of the cathodic composite material is an unexpected result of the corrosion chemistry in natural seawater. Deep submergence of composite materials introduces another potential degradative mechanism in seawater due to an increase moisture uptake by damage-dependent mechanisms. In this paper other environmental exposure to sunlight, deep submergence and cyclic thermal changes which show potential for degradation of composites are discussed.},
doi = {10.1115/1.2905910},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5322586}, journal = {Journal of Energy Resources Technology; (United States)},
issn = {0195-0738},
number = ,
volume = 113:4,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1991},
month = {Sun Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1991}
}