Environmental Stability of GFRP Laminated Composites: An Emphasis on Mechanical Behaviour

Abstract

Purpose - The main objective of this experimental investigation is to assess the effect of thermal and cryogenic treatment on hygrothermally conditioned glass fibre reinforced epoxy matrix composites, the impact on its mechanical properties with change in percentage of individual constituents of the laminates. Design/methodology/approach - The present investigation is an attempt at evaluating the performance of the laminates subjected to different thermal and cryogenic treatments for varying time with prior hygrothermal treatment. The variability of hygrothermal exposure is in the range of 4-64 hours. GFRP laminates with different weight fractions 0.50-0.60 of fibre re enforcements were used. The ILSS, which is a matrix dominated was studied by three point bend test using INSTRON 1195 material testing machine. Findings - The post hygrothermal treatments (both thermal and cryogenic exposures) resulted in an increase in the rate of desorption of moisture. It is noted that the hygrothermal treatment prior to the exposure to thermal or cryogenic conditioning is the major attribute to the variations in the ILSS values. The extent of demoisturisation of the hygrothermaly conditioned composites due to a thermal or a cryogenic exposure is observed to be inversely related to its ILSS, independent of the fibre weight fractions. Also the ILSS is inversely related to the fibre weight fraction irrespective of the post hydrothermal treatment. Originality/value – The reported data is based on experimental investigations.