Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Environmentally influenced degradation of fiber-reinforced composites

Journal Article · · Materials Performance
OSTI ID:477178
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Indian Inst. of Tech., Bombay (India)
  2. NMRL, Bombay (India)

Two fiber-reinforced polymer composites were examined for susceptibility to degradation due to exposure to aggressive environments. Composites and fibers were exposed to a mixed inoculum of aerobic bacteria and also to an anaerobic sulfate reducing bacteria. Fiberglass-reinforced vinyl ester and isophthalic ester composites, as well as the individual glass fibers, were extensively degraded due to the bacterial attack. Degradation from exposure to water at elevated temperatures as well as exposure to 1N sulfuric acid were studied. In both cases, the composite samples underwent degradation in the form of fiber pullout, as well as matrix cracking, leading to subsequent reduction in the mechanical properties.

OSTI ID:
477178
Journal Information:
Materials Performance, Journal Name: Materials Performance Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 36; ISSN MTPFBI; ISSN 0094-1492
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Microbiologically influenced degradation of fiber reinforced polymeric composites
Conference · Fri Dec 30 23:00:00 EST 1994 · OSTI ID:70157

Microbiologically influenced degradation of fiber-reinforced polymeric composites
Journal Article · Thu Mar 31 23:00:00 EST 1994 · Materials Performance; (United States) · OSTI ID:7236226

Microbiological degradation of stressed fiber-reinforced polymeric composites
Technical Report · Wed Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1996 · OSTI ID:378143