Decrease of mechanical properties of thermoplastic matrix composites after immersion in a hydrogen peroxide solution

Abstract

The evolution of the mechanical properties, static and dynamic, of two different composites with thermoplastic matrix and glass-fiber fabric or carbon-fiber fabric as reinforcement after immersing in a hydrogen peroxide solution have been analyzed. The tensile strength suffered a decrease after exposure of the materials in the solution. This decrease was more important in the case of the glass-fiber composite than in carbon-fiber composite. On the other hand, the interlaminar shear strength suffered also an important decrease, but in this case more substantial for the carbon-fiber composite. Finally, the fatigue behavior of the materials have been studied after exposure to the hydrogen peroxide solution. The results correlate with the tensile results.