INVESTIGATION OF SEAWATER DEGRADATION OF MECHANICAL PROPERTIES ON GLASS/EPOXY, ISOPOLYESTER AND VINYLESTER COMPOSITES

The objective of the study is to evaluate the effects of seawater and temperature on the structural properties of glass/epoxy isopolyester and vinylester composite materials. All polymer composites prepared by hand lay-up technique and after curing the specimens expose to artificial sea water for different duration. These effects were studied in terms of seawater absorption and degradation in mechanical properties. Testing of specimens includes immersion time (days) and temperature at 600C. It is observed that high temperature accelerates the degradation mechanism in glass/epoxy isopolyester and vinylester composites and increase the weight of materials due to seawater absorption