Ion‐leaching behaviors and corrosion morphology of glass fiber reinforced vinyl ester composites in sulfuric acid solution

Abstract The corrosion mechanism of glass‐fiber reinforced vinyl ester composites was investigated by immersing composite samples in 40 wt% sulfuric acid solution at constant temperature of 35°C, 55°C, 65°C, and 75°C for periods up to 10,500 h. Results were characterized through weight gain tests, inductively coupled plasma analysis, and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Weight gains and ion‐leaching behaviors show that the composite interface has undergone significant changes due to a long corrosive environment, and the interface corrosion of composite increases with increasing the temperature. SEM images of surface and cross‐section of samples indicated that there exit in irreversible degradation reaction on resin matrix and interface in composite, which lead to the increase of weight gain and ion leachability, especially at high temperatures. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers