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An evaluation of the critical conditions for the initiation of stress corrosion cracking in unidirectional E-glass/polymer composites

Kumosa, L. LU ; Armentrout, D. and Kumosa, M. (2001) In Composites Science and Technology 61(4). p.615-623
Abstract

The purpose of this work is to establish the critical surface conditions leading to the initiation of stress-corrosion cracks on the assupplied surfaces of three unidirectional E-glass/polymer composites with modified polyester, epoxy and vinyl ester resins subjected to a nitric acid solution without mechanical loads. The composite materials considered in this study are commonly used in composite highvoltage insulators on overhead transmission lines with the line voltages ranging from 69 to 735 kV. The initiation of stress-corrosion cracks in exposed glass fibers on the composite surfaces was observed in the absence of externally applied mechanical loads. However, the crack initiation rates are strongly dependent on the amount of... (More)

The purpose of this work is to establish the critical surface conditions leading to the initiation of stress-corrosion cracks on the assupplied surfaces of three unidirectional E-glass/polymer composites with modified polyester, epoxy and vinyl ester resins subjected to a nitric acid solution without mechanical loads. The composite materials considered in this study are commonly used in composite highvoltage insulators on overhead transmission lines with the line voltages ranging from 69 to 735 kV. The initiation of stress-corrosion cracks in exposed glass fibers on the composite surfaces was observed in the absence of externally applied mechanical loads. However, the crack initiation rates are strongly dependent on the amount of exposed fibers. After the initial stage of crack initiation, no further stress-corrosion damage is observed in the composites. The E-glass/vinyl ester system appears to be more resistant to the initiation of stress-corrosion cracking in comparison with the other two composite systems investigated. This system exhibits the lowest number of stress-corrosion cracks and the lowest total surface area of exposed fibers on the composite surfaces. The E-glass/epoxy composite shows the lowest resistance to stress corrosion with the largest areas of exposed fibers. The effect of exposed fibers on the stress-corrosion process in unidirectional E-glass/polymer composites used in high voltage insulators has not been previously reported. It is clear that in order to reduce the rates of failure of composite high-voltage insulators by stress-corrosion cracking (brittle fracture), the presence of exposed fibers on their rod surfaces should be minimized.

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author
; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
keywords
E-glass/polymer composites
in
Composites Science and Technology
volume
61
issue
4
pages
615 - 623
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:0035271689
ISSN
0266-3538
DOI
10.1016/S0266-3538(00)00244-X
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
84efe0f3-51f8-46f4-8766-c5af821b2af0
date added to LUP
2022-11-26 13:38:29
date last changed
2022-11-28 09:42:40
@article{84efe0f3-51f8-46f4-8766-c5af821b2af0,
  abstract     = {{<p>The purpose of this work is to establish the critical surface conditions leading to the initiation of stress-corrosion cracks on the assupplied surfaces of three unidirectional E-glass/polymer composites with modified polyester, epoxy and vinyl ester resins subjected to a nitric acid solution without mechanical loads. The composite materials considered in this study are commonly used in composite highvoltage insulators on overhead transmission lines with the line voltages ranging from 69 to 735 kV. The initiation of stress-corrosion cracks in exposed glass fibers on the composite surfaces was observed in the absence of externally applied mechanical loads. However, the crack initiation rates are strongly dependent on the amount of exposed fibers. After the initial stage of crack initiation, no further stress-corrosion damage is observed in the composites. The E-glass/vinyl ester system appears to be more resistant to the initiation of stress-corrosion cracking in comparison with the other two composite systems investigated. This system exhibits the lowest number of stress-corrosion cracks and the lowest total surface area of exposed fibers on the composite surfaces. The E-glass/epoxy composite shows the lowest resistance to stress corrosion with the largest areas of exposed fibers. The effect of exposed fibers on the stress-corrosion process in unidirectional E-glass/polymer composites used in high voltage insulators has not been previously reported. It is clear that in order to reduce the rates of failure of composite high-voltage insulators by stress-corrosion cracking (brittle fracture), the presence of exposed fibers on their rod surfaces should be minimized.</p>}},
  author       = {{Kumosa, L. and Armentrout, D. and Kumosa, M.}},
  issn         = {{0266-3538}},
  keywords     = {{E-glass/polymer composites}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{615--623}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Composites Science and Technology}},
  title        = {{An evaluation of the critical conditions for the initiation of stress corrosion cracking in unidirectional E-glass/polymer composites}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0266-3538(00)00244-X}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/S0266-3538(00)00244-X}},
  volume       = {{61}},
  year         = {{2001}},
}