DEGRADATION ANALYSIS OF FIBRE-METAL LAMINATES UNDER SERVICE CONDITIONS TO PREDICT THEIR DURABILITY

Abstract

Fibre-Metal Laminate (FML) is an advanced material expected to possess improved mechanical properties than its sole constituents. Yet, only few studies focus on its durability. Thus, the aim of this study is to analyse the corrosion behaviour of FMLs based on carbon fibre composite (CFRP) and stainless steel (SST) in a sodium chloride solution. To fulfil this purpose, potentiodynamic polarisation and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were utilized. It has been observed that, as FML, the carbon composite and the stainless steel would effectively form a galvanic cell that facilitates the composite acting as a cathode and the stainless steel as an anode. Moreover, galvanic corrosion is accompanied by pitting corrosion of the stainless steel electrode. Also the impedance data recorded can quantify the polarisation resistance of the materials, whereas the polarisation technique is more appropriate to measure the galvanic couple current density and the couple potential of a CFRP/stainless-steel-hybrid laminate. Accordingly, carrying out both electrochemical methods is a powerful approach to predict the galvanic corrosion behaviour of FMLs under service.