The results of exposing Fiber Reinforced Plastics (FRP) coupons made from three different types of corrosion resistant thermosetting resins in several dilute water soluble/miscible organic compounds for up to one year are presented. In addition, the results of a study with four resins in contact with a two-phase aqueous/organic system are discussed. The purpose of these studies was to determine the limits of acceptable performance of FRP based on a range of epoxy vinyl ester resins in solvent containing environments.

The first study showed that dilute organic compounds are in general much less aggressive than the pure solvent. However, an exception to this rule was identified which confirms the preference for testing of “unknown” compositions over sole reliance on similarities to “known” compounds. The second study demonstrated synergistic effects between an aromatic solvent (swelling of the matrix) and diffusing mineral acids such as hydrochloric acid (permeation). Epoxy novolac based vinyl ester resins were found to have dramatically better resistance than the resins with a lower crosslink density.

Subject
Test methods, Water, Laminates, Vinyl ester, Solvents, Fiber reinforced plastic, Weight change, Interfaces, Epoxy vinyl ester, Immersion, Epoxies, Resins, Coupons
Keywords:
epoxy, ester, fiberglass, hydrochloric acid, organic, plastic, reinforced, resin, solvent, vinyl
© 2007 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
2007
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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