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On the suitability of fiberglass reinforced polyester as building material for mesocosms
R Berghahn1, J Brandsch, O Piringer
1Umweltbundesamt, Institut für Wasser-, Boden- und Lufthygiene, Versuchsfeld Marienfelde, Schichauweg 58, Berlin, 12307, Germany.
Abstract:
Gel- and topcoat surface layers on fiberglass [glass-reinforced plastic (GRP)] made of unsaturated resin based on isophthalic acid polyester and neopentyl glycol (ISO-NPG) were tested for leaching, ecotoxicity of water eluates, and abrasion by river sediments at a current speed of 0.5 m * s-1. Leaching from topcoat tempered at low temperature was significant, whereas it was negligible from highly tempered gelcoat. Water eluates from both gel-and topcoat were nontoxic in routinely employed biotests (bacteria, algae, daphnids). No abrasion by river sediments was detectable. Based on these results, GRP with gelcoat made of ISO-NPG is considered a suitable building material for mesocosms.