IMPACT AND FLEXURE PROPERTIES OF GLASS VINYL ESTER COMPOSITES IN COLD REGIONS

Despite the increasing use of composites in ''high technology'' areas, these advanced materials are still seldom used in areas like construction, offshore structures, structures in cold regions, and for marine applications. It is in these areas that composites' intrinsic high strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratios, corrosion and chemical resistance, improved impact and fatigue resistance, and potential for lower fabrication and life-cycle costs would appear to be the most advantageous. One use of composites is for the recovery of resources from cold regions, such as the Arctic, Siberia, and around the North Sea. The use of materials in these areas requires close interplay between researchers and practitioners due to the scarcity of systematic materials performance data for cold temperatures and corresponding environmental conditions. In this paper, the effects of moisture and freezing temperatures on the flexure and impact performance of resin transfer molded glass/vinyl-ester composites are presented. The effect of fiber architecture and repeated impact is also investigated. It is seen that the proper choice of architecture and materials can lead to better performance in cold conditions than at room temperature.