Abstract
This study deals with the effects of water immersion on the mechanical properties of glass fabric/epoxy laminates with different silane treatments. Both γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (amino silane) and γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (methacryl silane) were used as silane coupling agents. The laminates were immersed in distilled water at 80°C, and the weight change and the tensile and impact properties were measured. The weight loss occurred for the methacryl silane treated laminate, and as a result, the debonding at the interface with water penetration occurred. On the other hand, the amino silane treated laminate kept good bonding at the fiber/matrix interface even after longer immersion. The mechanical properties were affected by only the degradation of the matrix in the amino silane treated laminate, while they were affected by the degradation of both the matrix and the interface in the methacryl silane treated laminate. The degradation of the interface induced the change of fracture behavior due to water immersion, and as a result, the strength reduction process changed due to the degradation of the interface.
