Micro-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (Micro-FTIR) for assessing chemical resistance and durability performance of FRP materials

纤维增强聚合物(FRPS)作为钢筋的一种经济有效的替代品，越来越多地被用作混凝土加固。鉴于其耐腐蚀性、轻质和高强度，FRP筋在加拿大的基础设施方面已有20年的历史，如桥面、停车场和连续人行道。缺乏有关长期耐久性的适当数据是更广泛地接受和大规模实施FRP筋的主要障碍。此外，申请者正在进行以天然纤维和生物来源树脂为基础的玻璃钢生态材料开发的新研究。这些活动需要详细的研究工作，包括纤维-表面化学处理的表征，以及纤维/树脂界面分析。 为了解决这些问题，申请者将进行研究，调查各种环境/负载/协同参数对新材料和玻璃钢产品长期性能的影响，这些产品包括新型纤维、低扩散树脂体系、天然纤维和纳米颗粒。申请人的研究将包括确定对照和调节(环境暴露，加载)FRP样品的基本性质，以评估降解机制(纤维、基质和界面主导)。特别是用显微傅里叶变换红外光谱(Micro-FTIR)研究了复合材料的基质及纤维-基质界面退化。此外，涉及将颗粒用作屏障或FRPS中的任何其他目的的项目必须包括非常准确的微观FTIR分析，以调查这些颗粒对周围聚合链的微观结构的相互作用，例如潮湿环境下材料界面的水分。此外，我们的新项目(共同申请者的Tier-1和Tier-2 CRC)在生态复合材料中涉及天然纤维，将大大受益于该设备，用于表征纤维表面改性和纤维/树脂在侵蚀性介质中的耐化学性。拟议的研究将(1)为控制新型纤维和树脂、改性天然纤维、生物源树脂或纳米材料(如纳米纤维素或纳米二氧化硅)的FRP的耐化学性和耐久性的因素提供新的知识和科学见解；(2)根据短期实验室老化测试和使用中结构的现场测试数据提供可靠的模型以预测使用寿命；(3)验证天然纤维表面处理及其对FRP生态复合材料的行为和耐久性的影响；(4)产生新的耐久性准则；以及(5)影响国内和国际上即将出台的规范和材料规范。28名HQP(14名博士和6名MASC学生、5名博士后研究员和3名技术人员)将接受关于FRPS和纳米材料在该设备上的长期行为的高级培训。

Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) are used increasingly as concrete reinforcement as a cost-effective alternative to steel bars. Given their corrosion resistance, light weight, and high strength, FRP bars have a 20-year history in Canada in infrastructure such as bridge decks, parking garages, and continuous pavements. The lack of appropriate data about the long-term durability poses a major obstacle to broader acceptance and mass implementation of FRP bars. Moreover, the applicants are conducting new research on the development of FRP ecomaterials based on natural fibers and biosourced resins. These activities require detailing research work involving the characterization of fiber-surface chemical treatments, and fiber/resin interface analysis. To address these concerns, the applicants will conduct research investigating the effects of various environmental/load/synergetic parameters on the long-term performance of new materials and FRP products incorporating a new class of fibers, resin systems with low diffusion, natural fibers, and nanoparticles. The applicants’ research will include the determination of fundamental properties of control and conditioned (environmental exposure, loaded) FRP samples to assess degradation mechanisms (fiber, matrix, and interface dominated). In particular, matrix & fiber-matrix interface degradation will be studied by Micro-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (Micro-FTIR). Moreover, projects involving the use of particles as a barrier, or any other purpose in FRPs must include very accurate micro-FTIR analyses to investigate the interaction of these particles on the microstructure of surrounding polymeric chains, such as moisture at the interface of materials subjected to moist environments. Moreover, our new projects (Tier-1 and Tier-2 CRC of the co-applicants) involving natural fibers in ecocomposites will strongly benefit from this equipment for characterizing fiber-surface modification, and fiber/resin chemical resistance in aggressive media. The proposed research will (1) provide new knowledge and scientific insights into the factors controlling the chemical resistance and durability of FRPs containing a new class of fibers and resins, modified natural fibers, and biosourced resins or nanomaterials such as nanocellulose or nanosilica; (2) provide reliable models to predict the service life based on short-term laboratory aging tests and field test data from in-service structures; (3) validate natural fiber surface treatments and their effect on the behavior and durability of FRP ecocomposites; (4) yield new durability guidelines; and (5) influence upcoming codes and materials specifications nationally and internationally. 28 HQP (14 PhD and 6 MASc students, 5 postdoctoral fellows, and 3 technicians) will receive advanced training on the long-term behavior of FRPs and nanomaterials on this equipment.