Abstract
A kinetic study of water absorption in three types of thermoplastic materials has been undertaken: pure Pa66 polymer, short fibre and continuous fibre composites. Ageing tests were carried out under nine sets of hygrothermal conditions: three different temperatures 40, 70, 90°C and three relative humidity levels, namely 30, 75 and 100% r.h. The results were found to obey a Fickian diffusion model and the characteristic parametersD (diffusion coefficient) andM m% (maximum moisture content percentage) were determined. The influence of water uptake on residual mechanical properties was studied using three-point bending tests. For each type of composite, a water concentration threshold was detected beyond which a significant reduction in mechanical properties was observed.
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Valentin, D., Paray, F. & Guetta, B. The hygrothermal behaviour of glass fibre reinforced Pa66 composites: A study of the effect of water absorption on their mechanical properties. J Mater Sci 22, 46–56 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01160550
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01160550