Effect of Marine Environmental Conditions on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Fiber-Reinforced Composites—A Review

Abstract

Fiber-reinforced polymer materials are finding their increasing importance as structural material in marine, civil and aerospace applications. The durability and potential applications of these structures are influenced by the susceptibility to working environments. The ease of prediction of degradation of mechanical property becomes cumbersome due to the heterogeneity of constituent materials and non-standardized weathering conditions. This review article presents a study of long-term performance behavior of composite structures exposed to moisture, temperature, ultraviolet radiation and alkaline solution. Reduction in modulus due to increasing temperature, swelling of polymers due to moisture absorption and scission or alteration of polymer structures are either due to the attack of chemical mediums or ultraviolet rays observed in polymer composites during their service life.