Seawater Aging Research Articles

Effect of montmorillonite clay content on ac conductivity and impedance of Epoxy-based nanocomposites

Polymer nanocomposites were prepared by mixing Epoxy resin with 2, 5 and 7 wt.% of organically modified montmorillonite clay using a high shear mixer. Microstructural analysis of the nanocomposites was performed with transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The effects of voltage, frequency, temperature and seawater ageing on electrical conductivity and impedance of the nanocomposites were evaluated. The transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction results indicate that montmorillonite clay nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed in the Epoxy matrix. Experimental results show higher conductivity and lower impedance with the addition of 2 wt.% montmorillonite clay in the Epoxy matrix with respect to frequency, temperature and seawater ageing. On the other hand, with further increase in filler loading (5 and 7 wt.%) a reverse trend was observed with respect to conductivity and impedance. The obtained values of capacitance and resistance were found to be well correlated.

Natural weather, soil burial and sea water ageing of low‐density polyethylene: Effect of starch/linear low‐density polyethylene masterbatch

AbstractDegradation of the blends of low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) with a starch‐based additive namely, polystarch N was studied under various environmental conditions such as natural weather, soil and sea water in Saudi Arabia. Stress–strain properties and thermal behavior were investigated for the LDPE and LDPE/polystarch N blend having 40% (w/w) of polystarch N. Environmental ageing resulted in the reduction of percentage of elongation and crystallinity for the blend. Rheological studies and scanning electron microscope photomicrographs of the polymer samples retrieved after ageing showed that addition of polystarch N enhanced the degradation of LDPE. This is ascribed to high extent of chain scission and leaching out of starch present in polystarch N, which was corroborated by the results of morphology and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses. In the case of underground soil ageing, microbes present in the soil consume the starch in the blend, thus accelerating the degradation process. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013

Effect of laminate thickness on moisture diffusion of polymer matrix composites in artificial seawater ageing

The influence of laminate thickness of polymer matrix composites on moisture diffusion in seawater immersion, as well as the resulting mechanical property degradation for composites of glass/isopolyester (G/IPE), carbon/isopolyester (C/IPE), glass/vinylester (G/VE) and carbon/vinylester (C/VE), was investigated in this paper. Laminates 3 and 10mm in thickness, fabricated using the wet hand lay-up technique, were characterized for moisture absorption in artificial seawater medium, and their flexural strength and interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) degradations were studied. Moisture diffusion was observed to be anamolous to the Fick’s law for both 3 and 10mm thick samples in the later stage of diffusion. Moisture permeability of 10mmthick samples was two to three order greater than that of 3mm thick ones, while the time to moisture saturation remained unchanged. With the increase of laminate thickness, moisture saturation increased by 1.4% for C/VE and 7% for G/IPE. The residual flexural strength and ILSS were greater in case of 10mm thick specimens after 200 days of exposure. SEM examination of the fractured specimens showed greater levels of fibre/matrix debonding in 10mm thick specimens.

Fatigue Behaviour of Glass Fibre Reinforced Composites for Ocean Energy Conversion Systems

The development of ocean energy conversion systems places more severe requirements on materials than similar land-based structures such as wind turbines. Intervention and maintenance at sea are very costly, so for ocean energy supply to become economically viable long term durability must be guaranteed. Cyclic loading is a common feature of most energy conversion devices and composites are widely used, but few data are available concerning the fatigue behaviour in sea water of composite materials. This paper presents the results from an experimental study to fill this gap. The fatigue behavior of composite materials reinforced with different types of glass fibre is characterized in air and in sea water; the influence of testing in sea water rather than air is shown to be small. However, sea water ageing is shown to reduce the fatigue lifetime significantly and strongly depends on matrix formulation.

Modeling compression-after-impact response of polymer matrix composites subjected to seawater aging

This manuscript presents a computational investigation of the compression-after-impact (CAI) response of polymer matrix composites subjected to seawater-induced environmental degradation. A multiscale computational model that accounts for seawater-induced property degradation in composite constituents is proposed to predict the CAI response of E-glass reinforced vinyl-ester composites. Predictions of the CAI response as a function of specimen saturation are validated against experimental observations. The investigations revealed that partially-saturated vinyl-ester matrix composites undergo a significant reduction in the CAI strength, part of which is recovered upon full matrix saturation. The proposed computational model captures the response characteristics of partially- and fully-saturated specimens.

Degradation effects in polyester and vinyl ester resins induced by accelerated aging in seawater

This research is a study on the degradation effects caused by seawater absorption of isophthalic polyester and vinyl ester resin employed in boat manufacture. Physical and mechanical tests of the resins were performed before and after the degradation. The results highlighted that the polyester resin is more degraded than the vinyl one, due to a different network organization of the two materials. The polyester has a biphasic structure with a low compactness, so water diffusion into the bulk is highly favored. The degradation occurs mainly by the leaching of small molecules extracted from the resin bulk by the water. Damages (cracks, holes, blisters) are evident and the resin loses its mechanical performance. The vinyl network is monophasic and compact, so avoids the entry of water; its degradation occurs differently, by a hydrolytic surface erosion of resin layers. In this way, it retains its bulk better compared to the polyester one.

Sea Water Ageing of Composites for Ocean Energy Conversion Systems: Influence of Glass Fibre Type on Static Behaviour

Composite material components will be an essential part of ocean energy recovery devices, and their long term durability in sea water must be guaranteed. Despite extensive experience for boat structures and wind turbines few data exist to design structures subjected to a combination of mechanical loads and sea water immersion. This paper presents the first results from an experimental study, performed jointly with fibre manufacturers, and a resin supplier, to fill this gap. The experimental study is completed by numerical modelling to simulate the coupling between water absorption and mechanical behaviour. Sea water ageing is shown to result in a drop in quasi–static mechanical properties and a change in flexural mode from compression to tension at longer ageing times, which is consistent with results from the numerical simulations.

Montmorillonite nanoclay filler effects on electrical conductivity, thermal and mechanical properties of epoxy‐based nanocomposites

AbstractEpoxy‐based nanocomposites with 2, 5, and 7 wt% of montmorillonite (MMT) nanoclay were prepared using high shear melt mixing technique. The microstructural features of the nanocomposites were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The thermal and mechanical properties were measured using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), and dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA). Further, the effect of voltage, temperature, seawater aging on the electrical conductivity (σDC) of the nanocomposites was also measured. To understand the free volume behavior upon filler loading, and to observe the connectivity between microstructure and other properties, positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy was used. The TEM results revealed that MMT nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed in the epoxy matrix. Experimental results showed that the inclusion of 2 wt% MMT nanofiller increased the Tg, electrical conductivity, thermal stability, modulus, free volume of the epoxy nanocomposite significantly. This is well explained from the results of Tg (DSC and DMA), thermal stability, TGA residue, free volume analysis, and electrical conductivity. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers

Characterization of nanosilica‐filled epoxy composites for electrical and insulation applications

AbstractWe report in this article the results of nanosilica (SiO2)‐filled epoxy composites with different loadings and their electrical, thermal, mechanical, and free‐volume properties characterized with different techniques. The morphological features were studied by transmission electron microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry was used to investigate the glass‐transition temperature (Tg) of the nanocomposites. The properties of the nanocomposites showed that the electrical resistivity (ρ), ultimate tensile strength, and hardness of the composites increased with SiO2 weight fraction up to 10 wt % and decreased thereafter; this suggested that the beneficial properties occurred up to this weight fraction. The temperature and seawater aging had a negative influence on ρ; that is, ρ decreased with increases in the temperature and aging. The free‐volume changes (microstructural) in the composite systems correlated with seawater aging but did not correlate so well with the mechanical properties. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011

Long‐term mechanical behavior of aramid fibers in seawater

AbstractAramid fibers are today proposed in ropes and cables for marine applications. As these highly crystalline materials are loaded in tension for a longer period in seawater, their long‐term mechanical behavior has to be understood. However, the response is time‐dependent and exhibits a nonlinear effect with stress. In this study, two types of aramid fibers are studied: Twaron and Technora. Mechanical properties are measured using static tensile tests and creep‐recovery tests. A nonlinear viscoelastic–viscoplastic model, based on the Schapery formulation, allows discriminating between the instantaneous and the time‐dependent response as well as the reversible and nonreversible phenomena (plasticity). First, this procedure allows the overall mechanical behavior of the fibers to be compared, considering creep rate, plasticity, and instantaneous moduli. Then, using these parameters, the effect of the testing condition, air or seawater is studied. Finally, the effect of aging in seawater is quantified for both fibers. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers

Impedance and Susceptance Characterization of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes with High Density Polyethylene-Carbon Black Nanocomposites

Recently, the conducting composites have been attracted due to their controllable conductivity, good environmental stability and potential for application in electronic devices, electrostatic charge dissipation and electromagnetic interference shielding. In this paper, the nanocomposites with varying amounts of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) viz., 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 wt.% is incorporated in high density polyethylene (HDPE) with 20 wt.% of carbon black (CB) were prepared by the melt-mixing process. The electrical AC impedance (Z) and susceptance (B) characterization of HDPE-CB-MWNT nanocomposites were conducted with respect to filler loading, temperature, frequency and sea water ageing. The impedance decreases and the susceptance increases with increase in filler loading, frequency and temperature. Nonlinear behavior was observed in both impedance and susceptance with sea water ageing.

Seawater Durability of Epoxy/Vinyl Ester Reinforced with Glass/Carbon Composites

Seawater aging response was investigated in marine-grade glass/epoxy, glass/vinyl ester, carbon/epoxy and carbon/vinyl ester composites with respect to water uptake, interlaminar shear strength, flexural strength, tensile strength, and tensile fracture surface observations. The reduction of mechanical properties was found to be higher in the initial stages which showed saturation in the longer durations of seawater immersion. The flexural strength and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) dropped by about 35% and 27% for glass/epoxy, 22% and 15% for glass/vinyl ester, 48% and 34% for carbon/epoxy 28%, and 21% carbon/vinyl ester composites respectively. The water uptake behavior of epoxy-based composites was inferior to that of the vinyl system.

Seawater ageing of low styrene emission resins for marine composites: Mechanical behaviour and nano-indentation studies

Polyester resins are widely employed for pleasure boat construction. In order to satisfy new environmental legislation on styrene emissions resin suppliers have proposed modified formulations, but these show lower failure strains under tensile loading. This paper examines the influence of wet ageing on mechanical properties of low styrene polyester, together with standard polyester and vinyl ester resins, and their glass reinforced composites. Results are presented from accelerated ageing in natural sea water for nine months, at temperatures of 20, 40 and 60 °C. Nano-indentation was used to study local changes in the resin after ageing. The diffusion kinetics of the low styrene emission resins and their composites are similar to those for standard polyester resins. The low styrene resins appear to lose strength more slowly than the standard resins but after nine months in seawater at 40 °C similar property losses are noted.

Carbon-isotope stratigraphy of Cenomanian–Turonian platform carbonates from the southern Apennines (Italy): a chemostratigraphic approach to the problem of correlation between shallow-water and deep-water successions

The carbon-isotope record of three sections of shallow-water carbonates from the Upper Cretaceous sequences of the southern Apennines (Italy) shows a pronounced positive excursion of about 4–5‰. Using the upper Cenomanian Cisalveolina fraasi level as a biostratigraphic tie-point we correlate this excursion to the OAE-2 isotopic event. Comparison with the standard reference δ 13 C curve of Eastbourne (England) shows that the overall character of the excursion is clearly reproduced in the shallow-water curves. Chemostratigraphic correlation allows definition of the age of some important shallow-water biostratigraphic events to the precision of an ammonite zone, using the well-established bio-chronostratigraphic framework defined in the Eastbourne section. The onset of the Cenomanian–Turonian isotopic excursion coincides with a transgressive trend, recorded by the occurrence of more open-marine facies and culminating with an incipient drowning in one of the sections studied. Our data suggest that the open-ocean isotopic signal is most faithfully recorded and preserved in shallow-water platform carbonates during transgressive periods, when the effects of meteoric diagenesis and seawater ageing are less severe.

C and O isotope stratigraphy in shallow-marine carbonate: a tool for sequence stratigraphy (example from the Lodève region, peritethian domain)

Carbon and Oxygen isotope profiles from a well-dated carbonate section spanning the Sinemurian time on the Caussenard High (southeast France) are compared to sedimentological data and the results from sequence stratigraphy analysis, in order to discuss the origin of isotopic variations in a shallow-marine carbonate succession. The sedimentological study has enabled the identification of four types of depositional environments (peritidal, lagoonal, sand shoal, outer-shelf) that formed meter-scale cycles. The latter are arranged in two third-order cycles whose boundaries correspond to distinct δ13C and δ18O negative peaks (at the end of the Hettangian time and during Middle Sinemurian). The origin of the isotopic signals is discussed and several hypothesis are envisaged: sea water ageing, early meteoric diagenesis. Isotopic curves observed here seems to be related to early meteoric diagenesis linked to variations of third-order sea-level cycles rather than environmental factors (temperature, salinity).

Baltic Sea climate in the late twenty-first century: a dynamical downscaling approach using two global models and two emission scenarios

A regional ocean circulation model was used to project Baltic Sea climate at the end of the twenty-first century. A set of four scenario simulations was performed utilizing two global models and two forcing scenarios. To reduce model biases and to spin up future salinity the so-called Δ-change approach was applied. Using a regional coupled atmosphere–ocean model 30-year climatological monthly mean changes of atmospheric surface data and river discharge into the Baltic Sea were calculated from previously conducted time slice experiments. These changes were added to reconstructed atmospheric surface fields and runoff for the period 1903–1998. The total freshwater supply (runoff and net precipitation) is projected to increase between 0 and 21%. Due to increased westerlies in winter the annual mean wind speed will be between 2 and 13% larger compared to present climate. Both changes will cause a reduction of the average salinity of the Baltic Sea between 8 and 50%. Although salinity in the entire Baltic might be significantly lower at the end of the twenty-first century, deep water ventilation will very likely only slightly change. The largest change is projected for the secondary maximum of sea water age within the halocline. Further, the average temperature will increase between 1.9 and 3.2°C. The temperature response to atmospheric changes lags several months. Future annual maximum sea ice extent will decrease between 46 and 77% in accordance to earlier studies. However, in contrast to earlier results in the warmest scenario simulation one ice-free winter out of 96 seasons was found. Although wind speed changes are uniform, extreme sea levels may increase more than the mean sea level. In two out of four projections significant changes of 100-year surge heights were found.

Thermoplastic Composite Cylinders for Underwater Applications

A study of thermoplastic matrix composites has been performed to investigate their use in underwater applications such as oceanography, submarine, and sub-sea offshore structures. This article first presents six candidate materials. Results from simple mechanical and seawater aging screening tests on flat specimens are then described. Glass/epoxy and carbon/epoxy composites are used as reference materials. Two materials emerged from this process, glass/PEI and carbon/PEEK. Cylinders of both were manufactured and subjected to hydrostatic pressure tests, and results are compared to those for glass/epoxy and carbon/epoxy cylinders of similar geometry. The carbon/PEEK material appeared most promising. It resisted pressures in excess of 90 MPa and was retained for damage tolerance assessment studies. Drop weight impact damage zones were smaller in carbon/PEEK than carbon/epoxy for the same impact energies but the loss in residual collapse strength was more rapid in the thermoplastic composite. This was attributed to a change in failure mode, impact damage initiated a local buckling failure.

Sea Water Aging of Glass Reinforced Composites: Shear Behaviour and Damage Modelling

Sea Water Aging of Glass Reinforced Composites: Shear Behaviour and Damage Modelling

Sea Water Aging of Glass Reinforced Composites: Shear Behaviour and Damage Modelling

This paper presents results from a study of the wet aging of four thermoset resins and their [0°/90°] stitched glass fibre reinforced composites. The matrix resins are orthophthalic polyester, isophthalic polyester, vinyl ester and epoxy. Resins and composites were aged for 18 months, under three immersion conditions: 20°C sea water, 50°C sea water and 50°C distilled water. Tensile tests, on resins and at 45° to fibre direction of composites, both before and after aging enable the influence of matrix resin and aging medium on weight changes and matrix dominated property degradation to be evaluated. This has enabled a unique dataset to be obtained. Alarge part of the shear property loss after aging is recovered after drying. An original application of damage mechanics parameters is used to quantify the changes in composite shear behaviour, in order to provide a more complete representation of the inelastic response.

Aging of Natural Rubber in Air and Seawater

Abstract Accelerated aging experiments were carried out on a natural rubber vulcanizate exposed to air and to seawater. Failure strain, shown to correlate well with the fatigue lifetime, was used to monitor the extent of degradation. The effect of temperature on the rate of aging followed an Arrhenius law, with activation energies equal to 90 ± 4 and 63 ± 3 kJ/mol for air and seawater aging, respectively. The difference can be accounted for by the difference in oxygen concentration for the two environments.