A Comprehensive Study of Environmental Interactions with Composite Propeller Materials

Abstract

The current study focuses on the effects of temperature and moisture on composite materials containing resins like ortho-phthalic polyester and di-glycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA), suitable for propellers. Compared to DGEBA, after being submerged in distilled water at 50°C, ortho-polyester gains more weight. The tension and compression experiments for composites were conducted at 0° compression, 0° tension, 90° tension and ±45° tension with the test temperature of 25°C, 40°C, 55°C and 70°C. As the test temperature rises to 70°C. The compression strength of ortho-polyester drops by 38% and with moisture by 31.25%. The compression strength of DGEBA across the same temperature range decreased by just 14.4% and 16.7% in moisture. For dry and wet ortho-polyester laminates in 0°, ±45( and 90° direction, tensile modulus decreased by 12%, 50%, 41.1% and 13.64%, 52%, 42% from room temperature to 70°C. Whereas the tensile modulus of DGEBA laminates decreased by 7.4%, 24.6%, 36.18% and 7.7%, 25.5%, 37.5% respectively. Tensile strength dropped by 8%, 43.6%, 10.6% and 8.9%, 45%, 12.8% respectively for dry and wet ortho-polyester laminates in 0°, ±45 and 90° directions from room temperature to 70°C. In contrast, the tensile strength of DGEBA laminates in dry and wet conditions dropped by 7.9%, 15.4%, 1.1% and 8%, 15.75%, 2.2%, respectively, in the same direction and temperature range. Thus, DGEBA is insensitive to temperature and moisture, making it a great potential for the propellers.