Is G10 glass-fiber material waterproof?

[SpyderEdgeForever]

To what extent is G10 waterproof? Ie, I am assuming that because the component materials are glass fibers and laminate composites, there is no rusting going on, am I correct? Or if immersed in salt water for an extended period of time will there be any de-lamination or will this occur under any known normal circumstances?

[Blerv]

Commercial and pleasure vessels are made with fiberglass construction. Are you planning on hitting many rocks with your Spydie? If so, it should stand up better than wood but worse than aluminium or steel. :)

[The Deacon]

I could be wrong but, as with other polymer resin based composite materials, I would expect G-10 to degrade with prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light. Fiberglass boats normally "decay" more above the waterline, due to sunlight, than below it.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

Thank you. Deacon that was my other question about G10: What happens to it over time with exposure to ultraviolet light; like if you had it exposed to a sunny spot for a long period.

[The Deacon]

Thank you. Deacon that was my other question about G10: What happens to it over time with exposure to ultraviolet light; like if you had it exposed to a sunny spot for a long period.

Don't know exactly, but most of the resins used with fiberglass and carbon fiber will degrade to some degree. At the very least, they tend to bleach out, at the worst, they become brittle. Of course, it's primarily an issue on things that are exposed to sunlight from dawn to dusk pretty much every day. While I've read reports of G-10 and Micarta handled knives that were kept in store window displays for years bleaching out, I honestly don't see it as anything but a theoretical possibility for most knife owners.

[phillipsted]

G-10, is by definition, a fiber glass laminate made with epoxy resin. And epoxy does degrade with exposure to UV light. I'm sure the manufacturers include some UV inhibitor in the mix, but it would still take a long time in direct sum to degrade a slab of G10. Micarta, on the other hand, is cotton fabric laminated with a phenolic resin - which reacts much more slowly to UV. Again, probably not a factor in everyday use.

As far as water retention/absorption, this isn't an issue either. If you go look at the MILSPEC for G10, it specifies a water retention/absorption percentage of 0.001 or less (0.1%) for a piece of G10 that is submerged in water for 24 hours. The number for linen Micarta is somewhere in the 0.006 range, or half-a-percent weight gain after a 24 hour soak. In other words, not much...

TedP

[SpyderEdgeForever]

Again, thank you, guys. I appreciate the information on G-10. I have a third question, regarding its texture. I had a bad experience in which I bought a medium-level quality G10-handled knife, and the G10 felt rough and as if it had burrs to it. For those of you familiar with higher quality G10, like the handles used on Spyderco G10 knives, do you notice that roughness, as opposed to the relative smoothness of FRN and other materials? Has anyone else experienced a G10 handled knife that had a rough edge or burr-feeling to it?