에폭시 수지가 적용된 유리섬유 복합재료의 극저온 환경 기계적 특성 분석을 통한 LNG CCS 적용성 평가

Abstract

Consumption of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) has increased due to environmental pollution; therefore, the need for LNG carriers can efficiently transport large quantities of LNG, is increased. In various types of LNG Cargo Containment System (CCS), Membrane-type MARK-Ⅲ composed of composite materials is generally employed in the construction of an LNG carrier. Among composite materials in a Mark-Ⅲ system, glass-fiber composites act as a secondary barrier to prevent the inner hull structure from leakage of LNG when the primary barrier is damaged. Nevertheless, several cases of damage to the secondary barriers have been reported and if damage occurs, LNG can flow into the inner hull structure, causing a brittle fracture. To prevent those problems, this study conducted the applicability assessment of composite material manufactured by bonding glass-fiber and aluminum with epoxy resin and increasing layer from three-ply (triplex) to five-ply (pentaplex). Tensile tests were performed in five temperature points (25, -20, -70, -120, and -170°C) considering temperature gradient in CCS. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) analyses were carried out to evaluate the microstructure and thermos-mechanical properties of the pentaplex. The results showed epoxy resin and increasing layer number contributed to improving the mechanical properties over the whole temperature range.