Hygrothermal effects on chopped fibre/woven fabric reinforced epoxy composites. Part A. Moisture absorption characteristics

Abstract

Diffusion of water in epoxy composites with different sequential arrangements of woven roving (WR) and chopped strand mat (CSM) reinforcements was studied on immersion in water at 298 K and 323 K. Laminates with CSM as skin layers showed higher diffusivity and equilibrium moisture content than WR as skin layers. The diffusion parameters obtained from the experiment conducted up to saturation limits of 323 K showed good correlation with the data computed using a moisture absorption programme written on lines suggested by G.S. Springer. Hence data at lower temperatures are also generated by using the above programme, thus shortening the time to reach saturation levels.