Effect of Hygrothermal Aging on the Mechanical and Optical Behaviors of Hybrid Randomly Distributed Fibers/Woven Glass Composites

摘要

Glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites constitute nearly 90% of the global composites market and are extensively used in aerospace, marine, automotive and construction industries. The effect of operational environments on the long-term durability of structural components fabricated with glass reinforced composites is an ongoing concern. In this work, the effect of hygrothermal aging in different media on the mechanical behavior of a hybrid randomly distributed fibers/woven composite was experimentally investigated. The hygrothermal aging consisted of distilled water at different time intervals and temperatures.In order to follow the physico-chemical evolutions and their influences on the mechanical properties, e.g. flexural strength/stiffness and fracture toughness of the composite laminates, a comparative study of the properties was carried out for both unaged and aged specimens. An optical transmission scanning (OTS) was also used to investigate the effect of hygrothermal aging on the coloration of the composite specimen. The analysis of all obtained results shows that aging time, medium and temperature have a significant influence on the mechanical behavior and optical properties of hybrid randomly distributed glass fibers/woven composites.