The Effect of the Salt Water Aging on the Mechanical Properties of Epoxy Adhesives Compounds

Abstract

The objective of this study is to compare the effect of selected operating factors on the mechanical properties of epoxy adhesive compounds aged in salt water. Five different water environments were tested: tap water, normal seawater (reference salinity value), seawater with double reference salinity value, seawater with half of the reference salinity and seawater with a quarter of the reference salinity value. Samples of two different adhesive compounds were prepared using the epoxy resin and triethylenetetramine curing agent. One of the compounds was filled with calcium carbonate. The samples were aged in five different water environments for three months, one month and one week, respectively. Mechanical properties of the cured adhesive compound samples were determined via strength tests performed on the Zwick/Roell Z150 testing machine in compliance with the EN ISO 604 standard. The objective of the experiments was to determine the effect of different seawater environments on selected mechanical properties (including strength) of the fabricated adhesive compounds.