Abstract
Studies were conducted to simulate the effect of galvanic interaction on damage to composites while in the marine environment. Two types of carbon fiber/polymer composites were compared; carbon fiber/vinyl ester composite and carbon fiber/epoxy composite. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was employed in these studies to investigate non-destructively long term behavior under applied conditions. Samples were held at open circuit potential or different cathodic potentials up to 30 days of exposure. Under a non-biased condition impedance behavior was very capacitive over a wide frequency range with little changes with time due to the inert nature of polymer matrix. Significant changes in behavior were found at applied potentials to simulate galvanic coupling. Scanning electron micrographs show evidence of damaged polymer matrix and take different forms due to difference in microstructure. Equivalent electrical circuit analogs are proposed to describe the behavior of the two composites. Calculated pore resistance provides quantitative assessments of damaged polymer matrix due to applied field and exposure to electrolyte.
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