Material FRP (Fiber Reinforced Polymer) diaplikasikan sebagai pipa pada offshore platform dan shipboard piping. Fluida yang mengalir dalam pipa FRP bersifat korosif dengan suhu operasi 75˚C dan 95˚C. Material FRP mudah menyerap molekul air yang mengakibatkan penurunan sifat mekanis dan degradasi kimia. Komposit epoksi/E-glass pada penelitian ini diberikan perlakuan melalui uji celup dalam larutan NaCl 3,5% pada suhu 75˚C dan 95˚C. Setelah proses perendaman, komposit epoksi/E-glass dilakukan pengujian tarik, SEM dan FTIR. Hasil pengujian tarik menunjukkan tidak ada perubahan sifat mekanis pada epoksi/E-glass setelah proses perendaman. Pengujian SEM menunjukkan adanya microvoid berukuran ±3µm pada epoksi/E-glass yang diperoleh dari proses manufaktur. Seiring dengan peningkatan suhu, terdapat microvoid baru berukuran ±2µm yang disebabkan oleh fibre entanglement pada 75˚C dan rongga-rongga berukuran ±100µm di dekat serat gelas yang disebabkan oleh pembelahan rantai molekul pada matriks epoksi. Microvoid dan rongga tersebut menyebabkan meningkatnya mampu serap air epoksi/E-glass namun ternyata tidak mempengaruhi sifat mekanis. Perubahan warna larutan NaCl 3,5% dan hasil pengujian FTIR membuktikan adanya degradasi kimia pada epoksi/E-glass setelah proses perendaman pada suhu 75˚C dan 95˚C.

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Fiber Reinforced Polymer was applied as a pipe on offshore platforms and shipboard piping. The fluid which flows in that FRP pipe is corrosive with an operating temperature 75˚C and 95˚C. FRP material readily absorbs water molecules resulting in a decrease in mechanical properties and chemical degradation. Epoxy/E-glass composite in this study are given treatment by immersion test in 3.5% NaCl solution at temperature 75˚C and 95˚C. After immersion, epoxy/E-glass composite is tested by tensile testing, SEM and FTIR. The results of tensile testing showed there is no change in the mechanical properties of epoxy/E-glass after immersion. Photo SEM showed there is microvoid with size ± 3μm in epoxy/E-glass that obtained from manufacturing process. As temperature increases, there is new microvoid with size ± 2μm caused by fibre entanglement at 75˚C and many cavities that located near fibre glass with size ± 100μm caused by the termination of molecule chain in an epoxy matrix. The microvoid and the cavity is able to cause an increase in water absorption of epoxy/E-glass, but did not affect the mechanical properties. Color change of 3.5% NaCl solution and FTIR testing results prove there is chemical degradation of epoxy/E-glass composite after immersion at temperature 75˚C and 95˚C.