An analysis of moisture diffusion according to Fick’s law and the tensile mechanical behavior of a glass-fabric-reinforced composite

The properties of moisture diffusion parameters and their effect on the tensile mechanical behavior of a fabric composite (glass fiber/epoxy resin) in the warp and weft directions were investigated. The water up take by specimens conditioned in a humid environment under different relative humidities (0, 60, and 96% RH) at a constant temperature of 60°C was evaluated by weight gain measurements. The water absorption followed Fick’s diffusion law in the fabric composite. A comparison between the values obtained for the moisture diffusion coefficient and the equilibrium moisture content at the laboratory and those given by Loos and Springer showed that the parameters depended not only on the nature of materials, but also on environmental conditions. The effect of moisture absorption on tensile characteristics of the composite, which was tested in uniaxial tension in the warp and weft directions at constant imposed displacement rates up to failure, showed a significant reduction in the ultimate tensile strength of the specimens conditioned at 96% RH.