Investigation of the Impact Strength of the Epoxy-Polyester Material for Using in Aggressive Environments in the Water Transport
The influence of the aggressive environments of river water, seawater, oil petrol and sodium hydroxide on the impact strength of epoxy-polyester composite was investigated. Testing was conducted by two different methods. It was determined that the impact strength of specimens that were kept at air was W' = 4.2 kJ/m2 (by the second method - W'' = 7.0 kJ/m2). The energy spent on destruction of the control specimen was E = 0.92 J. The main regularities of the crack propagation process in the studied material were found and qualitatively described. The time of a crack propagation (τ = 0.16 μs) was determined. The maximum load, which leads to destruction of the specimen was P max = 2.47 kN. The comparative analysis of investigated specimens was conducted by the IR-spectroscopy method. It was found, that the biggest decrease in material properties was observed for the specimen that was kept in the petrol environment.