Abstract:

The aging behavior of 191# unsaturated polyester resin and its GFRP have been studied by artificial thermooxidation aging and artificial xenon arc lamp aging. The morphology and glossiness of specimens were investigated by microscope and glossmeter respectively. The yellowness index (YI) was tested by differential colorimeter. The unsaturated polyester resin was analysed by FTIR and DMA. The tensile strength and bend strength of the specimens were measured. With aging evolving, the appearance of the specimens changed more and more yellow, its glossiness reduced, and appeared some crack on the sample’s surface. These changes were related to the aging mode. The DMA showed that after xenon arc lamp aged 90d, Tg of the resin was from 84℃ to 88℃, and to 83℃after aged 240d, and its storage energy decreased gradually. Mechanical strength of the specimens increased at first then decreased. The aging of the resin and its composites were more susceptible to xenon arc lamp than thermooxidation.

Key words:  unsaturated polyester resin, glass fiber reinforced plastic, artificial accelerated aging, glossiness, yellowness index (YI)