EFFECT OF SALT-WATER AGING ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF FLAX-WOVEN FABRIC-REINFORCED EPOXY COMPOSITES

In this investigation four varieties of plain derived-irregular basket-woven-flax fabric-reinforced epoxy (F-E) composites pre-treated with alkali and trimethoxymethylsilane (ATS) were prepared with a hand lay-up process by varying their weight fraction of fiber loadings (0; 25; 35; 45) w/%. A water-absorption test (salt water) as per ASTM D 570-98 was performed over the fabricated composites and studied its consequences on their static mechanical properties (such as tensile, flexural, impact and interlaminar shear strength) in accordance with the ASTM standards. The results revealed that salt-water-soaked ATS-treated F-E composites exhibited poorer mechanical properties than unsoaked ones. Moreover, this study elaborated the kinetics of water absorption and showed that the moisture-absorption rate depends on the weight fraction of fibre content. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) disclosed fiber splittings and severe damage at the fiber-matrix interface as experienced by soaked F-E composites.