Ochuele Dominic Agida1, Elijah Oluwadara Adetunji2, Moses Adondua Abah1, Micheal Abimbola Oladosu1, Chidera Kingsley Eze3, Adeoye Ademola Hope4, and Chibuzo Joseph Attah5
1ResearchHub Nexus Institute, Nigeria
2Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Federal University of Technology Akure, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria
3Department of Civil Engineering, School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
4Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Federal University Otuoke, Ogbia, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
5Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
Received: Jan 22, 2026/ Revised: Feb 13, 2026/Accepted: Feb 15, 2026
(✉) Corresponding Author: m.abah@fuwukari.edu.ng
Abstract
Glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites are increasingly adopted in civil infrastructure, marine, transportation, and energy applications due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and design flexibility. Despite these advantages, the long-term durability of GFRP composites under sustained environmental exposure remains a critical concern governing their structural reliability and service life. Environmental factors such as moisture ingress, temperature fluctuations, ultraviolet radiation, and chemically aggressive conditions can induce complex physical and chemical changes within the composite system, ultimately leading to progressive degradation and performance loss. This review provides a comprehensive and mechanism-driven synthesis of the environmental effects and degradation processes that control the long-term behavior of GFRP composites. Emphasis is placed on clearly distinguishing environmental exposure conditions, observable material responses, and the underlying degradation mechanisms affecting the polymer matrix, glass fibers, and fiber–matrix interface. The resulting implications for mechanical performance, damage tolerance, thermal stability, and failure evolution are critically examined in the context of long-term service conditions. Furthermore, current durability assessment methodologies and accelerated aging approaches are reviewed, with particular attention to their ability to capture realistic degradation pathways and predict in-service performance. Key limitations in existing experimental practices and the challenges associated with extrapolating laboratory results to real environments are highlighted. The review concludes by identifying critical research gaps and outlining future directions toward mechanism-based durability modeling and performance-oriented design of GFRP composites. By integrating environmental exposure, degradation mechanisms, and engineering performance, this review aims to support more reliable durability assessment and long-term application of GFRP materials in demanding environments.
Keywords: Glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP), Durability, Environmental exposure, Degradation mechanisms, Long-term performance and Accelerated aging
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How to cite this article
Agida, O. D., Adetunji, E. O., Abah, M. A., Abimbola, M. O., Eze, C. K., Hope, A. A., & Attah, C. J. (2026). Durability and long-term performance of fiberglass reinforced polymer composites: A review of environmental effects and degradation mechanisms. Chemical and Environmental Science Archives, 6(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.47587/CESA.2026.6101
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