Tensile behavior of glass fiber reinforced plastics subjected to different environmental conditions

471-476Glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) composites are being used in a large number of diverse applications ranging from aerospace to sports equipment. The mechanical and environmental characterization of these materials is necessary to further enhance their application spectrum. GFRP composites are subjected to different working environments when put into service. The mechanical behavior of polymeric matrix composites in particular is affected by the environmental conditions. There is an imminent need to investigate the mechanical behavior of these materials when subjected to various types of environments for different exposure times. The objective of the present research endeavor is to characterize the tensile behavior of the GFRP composites when exposed to brine, acid and base solution, Ganga water, freezing conditions and kerosene oil for four different exposure times. The experimental results show that the tensile strength of GFRP plates is affected at different levels when subjected to selected environmental conditions for various exposure times