Effect of Saltwater Aging on the Mechanical Performance of Polyethylene Matrix Glass, Basalt, and Hybrid Fiber Reinforced Composites

Öz

In this study, the long-term mechanical performance of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) matrix composites reinforced with glass, basalt, and glass/basalt hybrid fibers in a marine environment was investigated. Composite specimens produced by the hot-press method were aged in a 3% NaCl saltwater solution for five months. Within the scope of the study, water absorption measurements were performed, and axial tensile and three-point bending tests were conducted. Experimental results showed that mechanical properties decreased across all composite systems due to water diffusion as aging time increased. The highest water absorption was observed in basalt-reinforced composites at 12.85%, while glass-reinforced composites exhibited a more stable mass increase. In tensile tests, hybrid composites demonstrated the highest environmental resistance with a 21.5% loss; however, in flexural tests, the hybrid structure was found to suffer a significant strength loss of 78.2%. Hybridization provides a beneficial effect under tensile loading; however, this advantage does not extend to flexural loading conditions, where the hybrid configuration exhibits a pronounced sensitivity to environmental degradation. 

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Basalt fiber
• glass fiber
• hybrid composites
• mechanical properties
• polyethylene
• saltwater aging

Etik Beyan

The authors declare that the materials and methods used in this study do not require ethical committee approval or any specific legal permissions.

Teşekkür

This study was supported by the Scientific Research Projects Coordinatorship of Konya Technical University (Grant No. 241010030). The authors would also like to thank the Mechanical Engineering Laboratory of Necmettin Erbakan University for their support in the composite manufacturing processes.

Tuzlu Su Yaşlandırmasının Polietilen Matrisli Cam, Bazalt ve Hibrit Fiber Takviyeli Kompozitlerin Mekanik Performansı Üzerindeki Etkisi

Öz

Bu çalışmada, düşük yoğunluklu polietilen matrisli cam, bazalt ve cam/bazalt fiber hibrit takviyeli kompozitlerin deniz ortamındaki uzun süreli mekanik performansı incelenmiştir. Sıcak pres yöntemiyle üretilen kompozit numuneler, %3 NaCl içeren tuzlu su çözeltisinde 5 ay süreyle yaşlandırılmıştır. Çalışma kapsamında su absorpsiyonu ölçümleri yapılmış ve eksenel çekme ile üç nokta eğilme testleri gerçekleştirilmiştir. Deneysel sonuçlar, yaşlandırma süresiyle birlikte tüm kompozitlerde su difüzyonuna bağlı olarak mekanik özelliklerde düşüş yaşandığını göstermiştir. En yüksek su absorpsiyonu %12,85 ile bazalt takviyeli kompozitlerde gözlenirken, cam takviyeli kompozitler daha kararlı bir kütle artışı sergilemiştir. Çekme testlerinde hibrit kompozitler %21,5’lik kayıpla en yüksek çevresel direnci gösterirken; eğilme testlerinde ise hibrit yapının %78,2 oranında mukavemet kaybına uğradığı belirlenmiştir. Hibritleme, çekme yükleri altında faydalı bir etki sağlamakta; ancak bu avantaj eğilme yükleme koşullarına yansımamakta ve hibrit yapı bu durumda çevresel bozunmaya karşı belirgin bir hassasiyet göstermektedir. 

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Bazalt fiber
• cam fiber
• hibrit kompozitler
• mekanik özellikler
• polietilen
• tuzlu su yaşlandırması

Etik Beyan

Yazarlar, bu çalışmada kullanılan materyal ve yöntemlerin etik kurul onayı veya herhangi bir özel yasal izin gerektirmediğini beyan ederler.

Teşekkür

Bu çalışma, Konya Teknik Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Koordinatörlüğü tarafından desteklenmiştir (Proje No: 241010030). Yazarlar ayrıca, kompozit üretim süreçlerindeki desteklerinden dolayı Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi Makine Mühendisliği Laboratuvarı'na teşekkür ederler.

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