Experimental and Modeling Investigation of Seawater Hydrolysis Effects on Aramid Fiber Rupture Behavior

ABSTRACT This study evaluates the mechanical performance and hydrolytic lifetime of four commercial aramid fibers (A, B, C, and D) subjected to accelerated seawater aging at 70°C and 80°C for exposure times of up‐to approximately days. Aramid A and B exhibit progressive degradation with increasing exposure time and temperature, with reductions of approximately and in rupture force, and up to and in rupture strain at 80°C, respectively. In contrast, Aramid C and D maintain stable mechanical behavior, with rupture force increases of approximately and at 80°C, respectively under maximum hydrolysis exposure condition. Mathematical 2D‐models, predominantly based on reciprocal formulations, show good agreement with experimental results (), both for rupture force and rupture strain. While three‐dimensional response surfaces describe the coupled effects of temperature and hydrolysis time for rupture force. Arrhenius‐type lifetime prediction models are developed for the degrading fibers (Aramid A and B), indicating predicted hydrolytic lifetimes exceeding typical offshore operational periods for Aramid A under marine service temperatures ( years at 16°C, and years at 4°C), whereas Aramid B becomes dominant above approximately 81.5°C. The proposed experimental and modeling framework contributes to the understanding of hydrolytic degradation in aramid fibers for marine applications.