Influence of nano graphene on water absorption in polyester/vinylester blend gel coats

Water absorption characteristics of composite materials and gel coats are crucial for their applications in marine industry. The physical and mechanical properties of composite parts are influenced by moisture. Water absorption of five gel coat compositions based on epoxy vinylester resin and neopentylglycol unsaturated polyester resin and their blends was studied in this work. The influence of nanographene addition on the water absorption of these gel coats was also investigated. The results showed that epoxyvinylester resin had the lowest and neophentylglycol unsaturated polyester resin had the highest water absorption levels, and their blends, as expected, showed the same behavior. TEM, SEM and XRD were used to analyze and characterize the dispersion and distribution of nanographene particles in the polymer matrices. The results showed both dispersed and non-dispersed flakes in the polymer matrices. It was also shown that the addition of nanographene resulted in gel coats with lower water absorption levels.