Micro and Nanophased Polymeric Composites

Book excerpt: Micro and Nanophased Polymeric Composites: Durability Assessment in Engineering Applications provides a comprehensive review of in-service environmental damage and degradation studies of FRP composites in a broad range of different applications. End-users such as academic and industrial researchers and materials scientists and engineers working in the design, analysis, and manufacture of composite material systems will be able to identify the possible superior advantages and limitations of FRP composites in various applications. Particular emphasis is given on the identification of various failure micro-mechanisms leading to unprecedented failure in different harsh and hostile environments.Divided into two distinct parts, the first section focuses on fundamentals, with key chapters on the main constituents of FRP composites, mechanical properties, characterization techniques, and processing and fabrication techniques. Part two focuses on polymer composites under different in-service applications, including the marine and space environment, chemical and corrosive environments, high and low temperature environments, and other critical environments. - Covers various micro-mechanisms of failure under different environmental conditions, including moisture diffusion kinetics and the effects of aging parameters on microstructures - Discusses the impact of different nanoscale reinforcements on the environmental durability of conventional FRP composites - Presents a comprehensive approach with widespread applications such as low earth orbit space environments and different corrosive environments