Mechanical and dynamic characteristics for the CFRP, GFRP, and hybrid composites exposed to HCl environment

In the current study, the low-velocity impact (LVI) characteristics of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP), glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP), and hybrid composites before and after the corrosive environment exposure were investigated. In this regard, CFRP, GFRP, and hybrid composites were subjected to LVI and tensile loadings after being kept in a 10% diluted HCl environment for 1 week and 1 month, and the impacts of the corrosive environment on the composites’ dynamic and mechanical responses were determined by comparing the outcomes of the control and aged specimens. LVI tests for CFRP, GFRP, and hybrid composites were carried out by transferring 25.2 and 11.2 J impact energy to the specimens with two impact velocities of 3 and 2 m/s, respectively, and thus, the effects of impact energy and hybridization were investigated. Moreover, tensile tests were conducted for the control and aged specimens with 2 mm/min crosshead speed, and thus, the effects of fiber material, hybridization, and corrosive environment on the mechanical properties were determined. The study found that CFRP composites had higher stiffness than GFRPs, whereas hybrid composites exhibited dynamic responses between CFRP and GFRP, as expected. On the other hand, it turned out that the composites absorbed most of the impact energy, which was interpreted as being absorbed by the damage of fiber-reinforced composites, which stand out with their brittle characteristics. Furthermore, it was discovered that the damage severity elevated as expected with a longer aging time, which was attributed to the corrosive liquid attacking the fibers, matrix, and fiber/matrix interfaces and reducing strength. It was also observed that, as predicted, the corrosive effects generally resulted in a reduction in tensile responses, including ultimate strain and tensile strength.