Solid Particle Erosion Processes in Thermoset and Thermoplastic Composite Materials and Polyurethane Coatings.

Abstract

Abstract : Solid particle erosion of polyurethane coatings of various composition and tensile modulus on E glass epoxy substrate and of uncoated composite materials of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containing T-300 carbon fibers and E glass fibers have been investigated utilizing natural Mediterranean Sea sand. Effects of impact angle (30 to 90) and sand weight impacted (200, 400 and 600 gr) have been investigated and materials behavior and response were characterized by weight loss, surface roughness and surface morphology and structure. In all three types of polyurethane coatings on class epoxy substrate, a progressive decrease of weight loss with the increase of the impact angle was observed. Maximum weight loss was obtained at an impact angle of 30 degrees indicating the ductile behavior of these coatings. For the uncoated composite materials of polyethylene terephthalate, reinforced with T-300 carbon fibers or glass fibers, the weight loss increased with impact angle reaching a maximum at normal incident angle indicative of brittle behavior under erosive conditions despite the thermoplastic nature of the PET resin.