Abstract

Corrosion of E‐glass fibers in aqueous organic acids has been investigated. Oxalic acid is particularly severe and causes almost total strength loss after exposure for only a few days. Of particular importance is that oxalic acid is a degradation product of the plastic matrix of glass reinforced plastic materials. Other organic acids, such as glyoxylic and malonic acids, also corrode the glass fibers, and these too are likely degradation products of plastic. The proposed mechanism of corrosion is an ion exchange reaction in which metal ions on the glass surface are replaced by hydrogen ions from the acid. This is enhanced by complex formation of the leached cation with the anion associated with the acid. Some cations are leached more extensively in some acids compared with others, and boron has been implicated in the corrosion by organic acids.

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