A Novel Thermoplastic Composite for Marine Applications: Comparison of the Effects of Aging on Mechanical Properties and Diffusion Mechanisms

Haithem Bel Haj Frej (1) , Romain Léger (1) , Perrin Didier (2) , Patrick Ienny (1)

1 DMS - Durabilité des éco-Matériaux et Structures
2 PCH - IMT Mines Alès - Polymères Composites et Hybrides

This article investigates and compares the effects of hydrothermal aging on carbon fibre / Elium™ thermoplastic composite and on carbon fibre / vinylester thermoset composite for marine application. Accelerated aging tests are performed by immersion in deionised water at 70 °C. Water diffusion, monitored by regular weighing, shows that both composites as well as Elium™ resin exhibit non-Fickian behaviour. Analytical models are proposed to fit the experimental curves and to identify and compare diffusion parameters. The aging effects on the microstructure are evaluated using SEM, while irreversibility of degradation mechanisms is investigated by desiccation tests. Mechanical tensile tests, performed before and after aging, show the slight impact of water on tensile modulus and tensile strengths for both materials. Furthermore, it was found that shear modulus and interlaminar shear strength undergo significant alteration related to irreversible physicochemical degradation of the matrix. Studied materials have shown different diffusion behaviours, but similar mechanical properties evolutions.

Mots clés: Durability; Thermoplastic resin; Thermosetting resin; Mechanical testing

Domaines: Matériaux

Haithem Bel Haj Frej, Romain Léger, Perrin Didier, Patrick Ienny. A Novel Thermoplastic Composite for Marine Applications: Comparison of the Effects of Aging on Mechanical Properties and Diffusion Mechanisms. Applied Composite Materials, 2021, 28, pp.899-922. ⟨10.1007/s10443-021-09903-0⟩. ⟨hal-03201968⟩