Temperature–humidity corrosion behavior of basalt epoxy plastics

Abstract

The results of comparative studies on the temperature–humidity corrosion of epoxy composites—specifically, basalt and glass-reinforced plastics on the basis of high-strength and high-modulus S-type glass fibers—are presented. Kinetic laws of the moisture transfer in the composites are determined, values of the parameters included in them are found, and the kinetics of changing the shear strength of basalt and fiberglass plastics under forced (by overheated steam) thermohumid influence is studied. It is shown that the water vapor diffusion in the composite materials can be described with satisfactory approximation by Fick’s law. Thus, proximity to Fick’s law in the case of basalt plastic is better (deviations are less) than in the case of fiberglass plastic. The diffusion-kinetic model of a decrease in the interlayer fastness of the studied composites upon shearing during temperature–humidity influence on them is suggested. It is shown that the resistance of the polymer–fiber interface to humid corrosive damage in basalt plastic is higher than in glass-reinforced plastic.