Environmental stability of GFRP laminated composites: an emphasis on mechanical behaviour

摘要

Purpose - The main objective of this experimental investigation is to assess the effect of thermal and cryogenic treatment on hygrothermallyrnconditioned glass fibre reinforced epoxy matrix composites, and the impact on its mechanical properties with change in percentage of individualrnconstituents of the laminates.rnDesign/methodology/approach - The present investigation is an attempt at evaluating the performance of the laminates subjected to differentrnthermal and cryogenic treatments for varying time with prior hygrothermal treatment. The variability of hygrothermal exposure is in the range of 4-64 h.rnGlass fibre reinforced plastics laminates with different weight fractions 0.50-0.60 of fibre reenforcements were used. The ILSS, which is a matrixrndominated was studied by three-point bend test using INSTRON 1195 material testing machine.rnFindings - The post-hygrothermal treatments (both thermal and cryogenic exposures) resulted in an increase in the rate of desorption of moisture. It isrnnoted that the hygrothermal treatment prior to the exposure to thermal or cryogenic conditioning is the major attribute to the variations in the ILSSrnvalues. The extent of demoisturisation of the hygrothermally conditioned composites due to a thermal or a cryogenic exposure is observed to berninversely related to its ILSS, independent of the fibre-weight fractions. Also the ILSS is inversely related to the fibre-weight fraction irrespective of thernpost-hydrothermal treatment.rnOriginality/value - The reported data are based on experimental investigations.