Effect of chemical solutions on mechanical properties of epoxy composite reinforced with glass fibers

Abstract EN

Hand lay-up molding is used for preparing sheets of epoxy composites reinforced with chopped strand mat (randomly direction) glass fibers by weight fraction of (44%).

The sheets were left to solidify at room temperature (23± 2) ˚C.

The samples immersed in (HCL, KOH, distilled water, Benzene, and Kerosene) for equal period of time at constant temperature (23± 2) ˚C.

The impact and compressive strength were calculated for the samples before and after immersion in different chemical solutions.

The results shown that the impact strength of the samples that immersed in (HCL, KOH) solutions were decreased after immersion, while the impact strength of the samples immersed in (distilled water, Benzene, Kerosene) were increased after immersion.The results showed also that the compression strength of the samples immersed in (HCL, KOH, distilled water) decreased after immersion, while the compressive strength of the samples immersed in (Benzene, Kerosene) were increased after immersion.

Finally the results showed that the maximum relative mass gain (minimum absorption resistance) was of the samples immersed in (HCL) solution in both impact and compression test.

While the minimum relative mass gains (maximum absorption resistance) was of the samples immersed in (KOH) solution in both tests