본 연구에서는 최대 12개월 동안 염수침수시험을 수행하여 염수환경의 열습조건이 복합재의 특성에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 복합재 시편은 직물 형태의 탄소섬유와 에폭시로 구성된 프리프레그를 적층하여 제작하였으며, 노출온도 $35^{circ}C$, $55^{circ}C$, $75^{circ}C$가 적용된 염수환경에 완전 침수시키는 조건을 적용하였다. 연구결과에 따르면 복합재의 인장강성과 인장강도는 노출온도와 노출시간이 증가할수록 노출전에 비해 감소 정도가 크지 않았지만 이에 비해 압축강성과 압축강도는 감소 정도가 크게 나타났다. 특히 압축강도는 노출온도가 증가할수록 염수침투가 가속화되어 감소 정도가 크게 나타났다.
In this study, salt-water immersion tests were experimentally performed for up to 12 months to investigate the hygrothermal effect of salt-water environments on the mechanical properties of carbon/epoxy composites. The composites were manufactured by laminating prepregs composed of carbon plain-woven fabric and epoxy resin. The specimens were subjected to temperatures of 35, 55, and $75^{circ}C$ while being exposed to the salt-water environments. Mechanical test results showed that the tensile modulus and tensile strength decreased at a small rate, and the compressive modulus and compressive strength decreased at a relatively larger rate, as the exposure temperature and time increased. The rate of decrease in compressive strength became larger as the exposure temperature became higher. This is because a higher environmental temperature accelerates the salt-water uptake; this, in turn, reduces the compressive strength more rapidly.
