Unravelling the role of nanofillers towards the stability of polymer matrix composite in marine environment
Abhisar Hudda, Sudhanshu S. Singh, Shudhansu Tiwari, Harsh Kumar, Aditya Vesh, Md. Imamuddin, Debmalya Roy, N. Eswara Prasad
Abstract
Nanocomposites have been demonstrated to have much lower density, higher viscoelasticity and can have tunable physical and chemical properties compared to metal alloys. The main advantage of nanofillers reinforcement in the polymer matrix for underwater application has been highlighted in terms of lower water intake as well as less debonding in ionic medium. The different types of fibre-reinforced polymer nanocomposites have been fabricated in order to understand the role of nanofillers at polymer matrix inside the saline water. The bonding of protective coating with the resin surface was found to be affected in salt water whereas the nanofillers were found to diffuse into the empty space of polymer matrix and provide comprehensive chemical resistance in ionic environment. It has been established that the gel coating of the composite was not stable under the dynamic water flow and pressure. On the other hand, nanofillers has been found to comprehensively plugged the voids in polymer and fibers interfaces which showed much higher stability in marine environment by delaying the ageing of structures for offshore applications.