Evaluation of mechanical strength and fracture characteristic of polymeric composite reinforced with fiber glass in contact with sea water

Due to an increasing use of composite materials in the industry in general, especially in the oil and natural gas area, it is necessary a more detailed study of its mechanical properties. The composite consists of joining two or more materials in order to obtain another, with superior properties to those of each component individually. Therefore, the objective of this study is to evaluate the mechanical properties of tensile and bending as well as the characteristic of final fracture of the composite, the plastic reinforced by fiberglass and polyester resin, when it is in contact with sea water and compare them with the dry state. This paper also has the contribution to establish more safely the use of this composite when used in the maritime waters to transport fluids in the oil and natural gas industry. The samples were made from the manufacture of plates by the manual lamination process (hand lay up). As a result, there was little influence of sea water in the tensile and three-point bending properties of the composite and in the characteristic of the final fracture.