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This study was designed to provide information concerning polyester resin as a material for jewelry making. The secondary purpose was to develop processes which create an artistic form for jewelry sustained by a poetic tone based on the fluid and translucent qualities of the material.

acase@tulane.edu / 1 / Jennifer Marple

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio University, March, 1989. / Title from PDF t.p.

Bast fibre reinforced, unsaturated polyester matrix composites were fabricated using non-woven mats of hemp or jute fibre as reinforcement. Composites were also prepared using chopped strand mat glass fibre as reinforcement. The short-term mechanical properties of the laminates were assessed. It was observed that at equivalent fibre volume fractions the stiffness of the glass fibre reinforced material only marginally exceeded that of the two, unmodified bast fibre, reinforced materials. At equivalent fibre volume fractions, however, the strength of the glass fibre reinforced composite was found to be significantly greater than that of the bast fibre reinforced materials. It was noted that in the bast fibre reinforced composites, the onset of non-linear behaviour occurred at relatively low applied stresses. Work of fracture in static three-point flexure and Charpy impact strength tests, indicated that the toughness of the plant fibre reinforced material was as much as an order of magnitude less than that of the glass fibre reinforced material. Fracture mechanics techniques were used to further quantify toughness and confirmed this to be so. Furthermore, these tests indicated that the microstructure of the bast fibre reinforced material should be examined more closely. Microscopy conducted on the fibres revealed that these were often subject to extensive micro-compressive damage. It was postulated that uneven fibre straining characteristics could lead to compromised interfacial properties, which might in turn detrimentally affect the macroscopic behaviour of the composite. A technique known as half fringe photoelasticity was used to investigate the stress-field in the matrix surrounding the fibre defects. It was observed that not only did concentrations of stress occur in the vicinity of these, but also that the shear stress distribution along the length of the fibre was interrupted by the presence of the defects. The implications of fibre defects upon composite properties are discussed.

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Glass Reinforced Polymer pipes, commonly used in water transport applications, are prone to long term weepage. Weepage is defined as the transfer of fluid through the pipe and is considered a functional failure. An experimental investigation of weepage in multi-layered GRP pipes was carried out in two parts aiming to understand the phenomenon to help enhance the weepage resistance of manufactured pipes. First, liner surface profilometry investigation was carried out to identify microscopic features that might serve in initiating weepage. Second, MRI and x-ray tomography and SEM imaging of pipe samples aged with water and dye penetrant was carried out to capture weepage development through the pipe thickness. Diffusion through liner fiber/resin interface, propagation in the direction of poorly wetted hoop fibers and transverse cracks were found to be the likely causes of accelerating weepage in the samples. Fiber rich zones in the liner were considered weak spots that water can use for fast penetration of the liner. Finally, polyester netting used to hold core layer was found to help in water accumulation and transport through the pipe increasing the chances of failure.