OPTICAL FIBER SENSOR TO MONITOR THE CHEMICAL DEGRADATION OF FRP

Polymeric materials such as FRP has been used in chemical plant under acidic or alkaline condition for anti corrosion materials. These materials also degradate under severe condition, then they show obvious change in chemical structures due to hydrolysis or other reactions. Sometimes chemical degradations result in fracture of chemical equipment. Therefore, the development of the on-line monitoring system for the condition of equipment is expected. In this study, possibility of new on-line monitoring system as smart materials was examined. In order to detect the chemical changes of surroundings, two types of monitoring methods with the optical fiber, were investigated. The results showed that it is possible to detect the chemical degradation of FRP by these methods.