Abstract
In this study the effects of operational environments (temperature, humidity, and automotive fluids) on the long‐term durability of two types of glass fiber reinforced polyurethane are investigated. Variation of mass, flexural strength, and viscoelastic response are evaluated in order to observe the changes in the material. In most cases, samples reach a saturation plateau, following the Fick's law of diffusion. In gasoline and brake fluid a pseudo‐saturation plateau, followed by further weight gain, is achieved. Samples in water at 70 °C do not saturate even after 13 months of exposure. It is assumed that water molecules attach to the surface of the glass fibers, diffusing along the fibers. Three point bending (3PB) tests and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) of the virgin and saturated specimens show insignificant changes in the bending strength and glass transition temperature (Tg) for the samples in automotive fluids at room temperature. The same properties decrease linearly with increased humidity and temperature. After drying the samples, DMA scans show reversibility in the Tg and storage modulus; therefore no chemical reaction occurs in the presence of moisture/temperature. The brake fluid causes a secondary peak around 30 °C–40 °C, which could be due to the formation of a new phase or of a ‘skin‐core’ structure. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:2357–2367, 2019. © 2018 The Authors. Polymer Composites published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society of Plastics Engineers.
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