Effect of Salt Water Exposure on Foam-Cored Polyurethane Sandwich Composites

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of moisture absorption on the mechanical performance of polyurethane sandwich composites. The core material was a closed cell polyurethane foam. Face sheets were made of E-glass/polyurethane composite laminates. Vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding process was used to manufacture specimens for testing. The foam core, laminates, and sandwich composites were submerged in salt water for prolonged periods of time. Mechanical property degradation due to moisture absorption for each constituent was evaluated. Compression test was performed on the foam core samples. Laminates were evaluated by three-point bending tests. The interfacial bond strength in the sandwich structure was evaluated by double cantilever beam mode-I interfacial fracture test. The testing results revealed that the effect of salt water exposure on the compressive properties of the foam core is insignificant. The flexural modulus of polyurethane laminates degraded 8.9% and flexural strength degraded 13.0% after 166 days in 50% salinity salt water at 34°C conditioning. The interfacial fracture toughness of polyurethane sandwich composites degraded 22.4% after 166 days in 50% salinity salt water at 34°C conditioning.

Department(s)

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Research Center/Lab(s)

Intelligent Systems Center

Second Research Center/Lab

Center for Research in Energy and Environment (CREE)

Third Research Center/Lab

Center for High Performance Computing Research

Keywords and Phrases

Bending tests; Cantilever beams; Composite materials; Compression testing; Coremaking; Finite element method; Fracture; Fracture testing; Fracture toughness; Laminated composites; Moisture; Polyurethanes; Resin transfer molding; Vacuum applications; Foam core; Interfacial bond strength; Interfacial fracture toughness; Mechanical performance; Moisture degradation; Sandwich; Three-point bending test; Vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding process; Foams; Composite; Finite element analysis; Sandwich

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

1099-6362; 1530-7972

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2018 SAGE Publications, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 May 2020

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