ABSTRACT
With a growing demand for better materials in more demanding applications, polymer-based materials, combined with micro and nanomaterial, are often the best option. In many material applications, the transparency,
CONTENTS
15.1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 495 15.1.1 Chemical Aging .............................................................................. 495 15.1.2 Chemically Driven Expansion ..................................................... 497 15.1.3 FGS-Reinforced Epoxy .................................................................. 497
15.2 Energy-Based Fracture Analysis .............................................................. 499 15.2.1 Introduction .................................................................................... 499 15.2.2 Adhesive-Fracture Mechanics for a Polymer on a Substrate ... 499 15.2.3 Adhesive-Fracture Mechanics for Composites ..........................500 15.2.4 A Few Words on Crack Propagation ...........................................503
15.3 Chemical Potential of Solved Molecules ................................................504 15.3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................504 15.3.2 Inclusion of Cross-Link ................................................................. 507
15.4 Experimental ............................................................................................... 507 15.4.1 Introduction .................................................................................... 507 15.4.2 Methanol Uptake Experiments ....................................................508
15.5 Summary and Future Outlook ................................................................. 510 References ............................................................................................................. 511 Additional Reading ............................................................................................ 511
low weight, and corrosion resistance are key features. Nevertheless, polymer matrices are not as tight as they look. Solubility, and subsequent diffusion, of chemicals in polymers is a drawback.* On the „rst place, chemical solubility and diffusion might alter the integrity of the composite itself (see Figure 15.1).
