Volume 19, Issue 3, 2010

LETTER: WATER ABSORPTION STUDY ON PULTRUDED E-GLASS FIBRE REINFORCED UNSATURATED POLYESTER COMPOSITES

Hazizan Md Akil*, Leong Wei Cheng, M. H. Affzan, A. Abu Bakar, Z.A. Mohd Ishak

School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Engineering Campus, University Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: hazizan@eng.usm.my

Received 11 August 2009; accepted 2 November 2009

ABSTRACT
Glass fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composites were subjected to water immersion tests in order to study its water absorption behaviour its effects on mechanical properties. Water absorption tests were conducted by immersing composite specimens into three different environmental conditions included distilled water, sea water and acidic solution. Water absorption curves were obtained and diffusion coefficient (D) and maximum moisture content (Mm) were determined. The water absorption behaviour of composite was found to follow a so-called Fickian behaviour. The flexural and compression properties were found to decrease with increasing water uptake.

Keywords: Fibres; Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs); Environmental Degradation; Mechanical Property; Pultrusion