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Effect of Exposure Time to UV Radiation on Mechanical Properties of Glass/Epoxy Composites

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Abstract

Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) is commonly used in outdoor applications that expose it to environmental conditions capable of degrading its properties, notably ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In this study, we subjected GFRP to UV radiation for a duration of up to 180 days in an accelerated aging chamber. The composites underwent mechanical testing through tensile and flexural evaluations, while chemical and physical changes in the composite were assessed using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric analysis, and optical microscopy. Tensile tests revealed a noticeable reduction in GFRP strength after just one month of UV exposure, with a decrease of 18.7% observed at 90 days of exposure. In contrast, the behavior of the composite under flexural testing showed an initial improvement in strength after 30 days of UV exposure, with a significant increase of 54.1%. With longer exposure times, flexural strength gradually decreased but remained 18.9% higher than the strength of the unaged composite after 180 days of UV exposure. Other characterizations indicated material degradation, marked by phenomena such as photo-oxidation, composite yellowing, and the appearance of microcracks on the surface. These factors collectively contribute to the reduction in composite strength. Despite the visible degradation, the aged composite may exhibit improvements attributed to post-curing. However, over more extended periods, it may experience a decline in mechanical properties. Consequently, longer degradation times may unveil a behavior pattern distinct from what is observed during shorter periods, contingent upon the specific mechanical load under consideration.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for support of the Celso Suckow da Fonseca Federal Center for Technology and Education (CEFET/RJ) and the Federal Fluminense Institute (IFF).

Funding

This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - (CAPES/Brasil) under Finance Code 001, by Research Foundation of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) and by the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Federal Fluminense, Itaperuna, Brazil

    Hiasmim Rohem Gualberto

  2. UFF - Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niteroi, Brazil

    João Marciano Laredo dos Reis

  3. UERJ - Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Nova Friburgo, Brazil

    Mônica Calixto de Andrade

  4. CEFET/RJ - Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica Celso Suckow da Fonseca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Hiasmim Rohem Gualberto, Hector Reynaldo Meneses Costa & Felipe do Carmo Amorim

  5. International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria

    Julian David Hunt

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  1. Hiasmim Rohem Gualberto
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by Hiasmim Rohem Gualberto, Felipe do Carmo Amorim, Hector Reynaldo Meneses Costa e Julian David Hunt. The characterization tests were carried out by João Marciano Laredo dos Reis and Mônica Calixto de Andrade. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Hiasmim Rohem Gualberto and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Hiasmim Rohem Gualberto.

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Gualberto, H.R., dos Reis, J.M.L., de Andrade, M.C. et al. Effect of Exposure Time to UV Radiation on Mechanical Properties of Glass/Epoxy Composites. Appl Compos Mater 31, 447–465 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10443-023-10182-0

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