Effect of different acid solutions on glass/epoxy composites

Abstract

Composite materials are exposed to a range of hostile environments with consequent degradation in terms of mechanical properties. However, the bibliography is not sufficient to establish a full knowledge about the effect of hostile environments on mechanical properties. This work intends to study the response to flexural and to low velocity impact of a glass fibre/epoxy composite after immersion in two different acid solutions, hydrochloric acid and sulphuric acid. These solutions affect significantly the flexural and impact strength, however, the hydrochloric acid was responsible for the worst results. The maximum load and elastic energy decreases with the impacts. On the other hand, the maximum displacement and damaged area showed an inverse tendency.