Degradation Mechanism of Glass/Polyester Composite Exposure to Acidic and Alkaline Solutions at Room Temperature

摘要

The aim of this work is the study of the degradation mechanism of a glass fiber/unsaturated polyester (UP) composite immersed in acidic (H_2SO_4) and alkaline (NaOH) solutions like establishing a relation between the chemical and the mechanical behaviors of this material. The gravimetric analyses showed a pseudo fickian behavior for the samples immersed in H_2SO_4 and mass losses with a pseudo-stage of saturation as from 64 hours of immersion for the samples immersed in NaOH. The Fourier transform infrared analysis (FT-IR) of the UP resin revealed the presence of chemical degradation phenomenon (hydrolysis). Microscopic observations (SEM) confirmed the fibres/matrix interfaces degradation. The effect of these degradations has been reflected one the mechanical properties of the materials.