Some corrosion mechanisms in attack of resin and resin‐glass laminates

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Abstract
In contrast to metallic corrosion where electrochemical corrosion mechanisms are dominant, a variety of mechanisms play a role in degradation of fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) structures. Attack may occur by physical or chemical means or by a combination of both. Although some actions of particular attacking species may be quite specific, there are a number of general corrosion mechanisms and broad guidelines that can be established in order to choose a resin suitable for a particular service. Corrosion mechanisms are illustrated by interactions of environments with vinyl ester resins. Attack in non‐aqueous media is often related to chemical similarity between attacking specie and the resin. Among chemically similar resins, the extent of this type of attack is often influenced by the crosslink density of the resin. It is shown that the solubility parameter of the attacking specie is useful in predicting suitability of a resin for service, if the resin has been evaluated by a test sequence in organic media of varying solubility parameters. In aqueous media it is found that physical attack can occur by means of an osmotic permeation of the resin by water. Degradation by pure water is often more severe than that caused by ionic solutions. Such physical attack can cause delamination and blistering of laminates and must be regarded as a potentially serious corrosive mechanism, although not primarily chemical in nature. In addition to physical attack, chemical attack can occur. Saponification by sodium hydroxide and oxidation by sodium hypochlorite are discussed in some detail as examples. It is shown that in both these cases the chemical corrosive process may be inhibited by controlling the physical corrosion process due to water.

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