Weathering of fiber‐reinforced epoxy composites

Abstract

Abstract Unless suitably stabilized and coated, fiber‐reinforced composites are subject to photoinitiated oxidation which results in a degradation of the resin surface and an eventual reduction in the composite's mechanical properties. The photo‐oxidation, which is initiated by UV‐absorbing oxidation products created during cure, is relatively amenable to detection by techniques of analytical chemistry. Mechanical test results, which reflect a wide range of material properties, are more subject to variability and misinterpretation.