Glass fibers with clay nanocomposite coating: Improved barrier resistance in alkaline environment

• Published in: Composites. Part A, Applied science and manufacturing Vol. 42; no. 12; pp. 2051 - 2059
• Main Authors: Liu, Ming-Yang, Zhu, Hong-Gang, Siddiqui, Naveed A., Leung, Christopher K.Y., Kim, Jang-Kyo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: A. Glass fiber; A. Particle-reinforcement; Applied sciences; B. Corrosion; B. Environmental degradation; Barriers; clay; Clay (material); Coating; coatings; Composites; corrosion; Exact sciences and technology; Fibers; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; glass fibers; ions; nanoclays; Nanocomposites; Nanomaterials; Nanostructure; Polymer industry, paints, wood; polymers; Technology of polymers; tensile strength; Vinyl ester resins; A. Glass fiber; B. Environmental degradation; B. Corrosion; A. Particle-reinforcement; Clay; Vinyl ester resin; Coated fiber; Mechanical properties; Dispersion reinforced material; Experimental study; Mineral fiber; Composite material; Tensile strength; Corrosion resistance; Alkaline corrosion; Artificial ageing; Nanocomposite; Glass fiber; Protective coatings; Damaging
• ISSN: 1359-835X; 1878-5840
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2011.09.013

Coatings made from neat vinyl ester and nanoclay reinforced vinyl ester composites are applied onto individual glass fibers as well as rovings to evaluate their barrier resistance against alkali and moisture attack. The fibers coated with clay nanocomposites present a significantly less damage caused by the diffusing alkali ions, giving rise to a much higher residual tensile strength after aging than the fibers without coating or those with a neat polymer coating. The static fatigue test performed on individual fibers verifies the advantage of using nanoclay composite to retard the corrosion process under the combined stress and alkaline environment. Similar beneficial effects of incorporating nanoclay on residual strength are identified for impregnated fiber bundles. The above observations confirm the excellent barrier characteristics of intercalated/exfoliated nanoclay in polymer that are applied in composite structures on both the microscopic and macroscopic scales.