Efeitos do envelhecimento acelerado e de agente de autorreparo em um compósito de fibra de vidro – epóxi aplicado como reparo de dutos da Indústria petrolífera

Abstract

The global oil industry employs in all process sectors, from the exploration phase of the reserve to the distribution of the refined product, metallic pipelines to transport fluids, which, due to their corrosive nature, cause internal damage to the metallic structure. Likewise, the environment in which the oil and gas pipelines are subjected damages them externally. As a resource for prolonging service life under exposed conditions, composite materials have been used as a repair for oil and natural gas pipelines since the 90’s, due to their high chemical resistance, thermal and mechanical performance. However, studies about the aging effects of these repairs are scarce, once fundamental for their application. Furthermore, the use of materials capable of self-heal is another promising alternative in the pursuit for increased service life, along with reduced costs associated with the maintenance of these repairs during service. Therefore, the objective of this work is to evaluate the effects of accelerated aging on a glass fiber composite with epoxy polymer matrix, applied as pipeline’s repair, with and without potential self-healing agents, subjected to saline water immersion 7 days. The self-healing agent inserted in the composite of this work is the poly(ethylene-co-methacrylic acid) (EMAA), which was added in concentration of 3% by mass. The tests conducted to study the aging effects and the addition of the self-healing agent were: mass variation, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and permeability test.