The ArmaFORM AC Grade is a foam core that meets the requirements of contemporary composite materials. It is lightweight and has high mechanical strength, residual flexibility, and long service life. The ArmaFORM PET AC foams are DNV and GL certified. This article examines the solvent resistance of ArmaFORM AC Grade after exposure to different solvent atmospheres.
Solvent Resistance of ArmaFORM AC 100
The ArmaFORM AC grade, AC 100 was subjected to a wide range of different solvent atmospheres for 7, 14 and 28 days in accordance with DIN 53428 standards. Following this, the residual compression modulus and compression strength were calculated. These are displayed with reduced percentage of the original properties in the table below.
Table 1. Compression properties of different chemicals.
| CHEMICAL |
COMPRESSION PROPERTIES (%) |
| Strength |
Modulus |
| After 1W |
After 2W |
After 4W |
After 1W |
After 2W |
After 4W |
| Acetone |
-11 |
-23 |
-28 |
-12 |
-22 |
-28 |
| Toluene |
0 |
1 |
-6 |
-4 |
0 |
-5 |
| PAE15690 ASTM Oil 1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
-2 |
0 |
-1 |
| PAE15691 ASTM Oil 2 |
1 |
-1 |
0 |
1 |
-1 |
-1 |
| PAE16692 ASTM Oil 3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
-3 |
0 |
-3 |
| HN03 25% |
-2 |
-5 |
-9 |
-1 |
-1 |
-7 |
| NaOH 10% |
0 |
3 |
-2 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
| n-Pentane |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
| Ethanol |
-6 |
-7 |
-22 |
-5 |
-5 |
-14 |
| HCI 25% |
-5 |
-6 |
-7 |
-4 |
-4 |
-5 |
Note : Compression decrease 0 - 5%
Compression decrease 5 - 10%
Compression decrease > 10%
Chemical Resistance of ArmaFORM AC 100
Besides the solvent atmospheres tests, the AC grade was also subjected to immersion tests (shown in the table below). These figures underline the excellent resistant properties of the AC grade against water, gasoline, styrene, ethanol, and n-pentane. Styrene was the only liquid that displayed more than 10% reduction in properties.
Table 2. Chemical resistance of ArmaFORM AC 100.
| IMMERSION ON |
COMPRESSION PROPERTIES (%) |
| Strength |
Modulus |
| After 1W |
After 2W |
After 4W |
After 1W |
After 2W |
After 4W |
| Water |
-6 |
-5 |
-2 |
-9 |
-7 |
1 |
| Ethanol |
4 |
2 |
-5 |
5 |
4 |
1 |
| N-pentane |
-1 |
1 |
1 |
-1 |
2 |
1 |
| Styrene |
-7 |
-10 |
-25 |
-6 |
-13 |
-21 |
| Gasoil |
2 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
Note : Compression decrease 0 - 5%
Compression decrease 5 - 10%
Compression decrease > 10%
Ethanol immersion was in fact better than the gas version. This can be the case for certain substances as the gas is more aggressive and contains smaller molecules. Therefore, for most substances, in liquid or gas form, all AC grades have excellent solvent resistance.
Conclusion
The above detail demonstrates the solvent resistance properties of the ArmaFORM AC grade after exposing to different solvent atmospheres.
This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Armacell Benelux.
For more information on this source, please visit Armacell Benelux.