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Influence of water and accelerated aging on the shear fracture properties of glass/epoxy composite

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Abstract

The degradation of interlaminar shear strength and shear fracture toughness of glass/epoxy composites due to uptake of distilled water and sea water has been studied. The composites were immersed in water for up to eight months at temperatures up to 70 °C. Unreinforced matrix resin samples were also immersed for periods up to 2 years. Sea water was absorbed less rapidly than distilled water. Weight gains below 1% did not influence the shear strength while higher weight gains reduced shear strength up to 25%. The loss in apparent interlaminar shear strength was uniquely related to specimen weight gain. Mode II fracture toughness, G IIc, also decreased with increasing immersion time after an initial incubation period, but the accelerated tests were found to reduce G IIc less than the room temperature tests at comparable weight gains.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Materials Laboratory, IFREMER, Brest Centre, Plouzané, France

    P. Davies

  2. Allied Signal Fibers, European Development Center, Longlaville, France

    F. Pomiès

  3. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, U.S.A.

    L. A. Carlsson

Authors
  1. P. Davies
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  2. F. Pomiès
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  3. L. A. Carlsson
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Davies, P., Pomiès, F. & Carlsson, L.A. Influence of water and accelerated aging on the shear fracture properties of glass/epoxy composite. Appl Compos Mater 3, 71–87 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00158994

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00158994

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