Effect of salt spray on mechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced polymer composites

The accelerated salt-spray test was used to simulate a marine environment and determine the durability of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites in marine environments. Aging behavior after exposure in salt-spray environment was studied by changes in mass gain and mechanical properties including tension, compression and interlaminar shearing strength. The mass gain increases and the mechanical properties decrease with the aging time. Curves of the compression and interlaminar shearing test show more plastic than the original ones. Mechanical properties decrease quickly in the initial period of moisture absorption. The longitude tensile strength, transverse tensile strength, compression strength and interlaminar shearing strength decrease to 56.1%, 54.7%, 54.0%, 61.0%, respectively. The tensile strength is more steady and more suitable for evaluating the aging degree of the composites.