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8245391 
Meetings & Symposia 
The long-term water absorption and desorption behaviour of carbon-fibre / epoxy composites 
Arnold, C; Korkees, F; Alston, S 
2012 
European Conference on Composite Materials, ECCM 
Venice 
15th European Conference on Composite Materials: Composites at Venice, ECCM 2012 
English 
Long term water absorption tests have been conducted on two different commercial epoxy resin systems along with carbon-fibre composites of one of the resins. Conditioning of samples in water and controlled humidity shows that there is an initial Fickian absorption, followed by a slower second stage that continues for at least 3.6 years. This second stage behaviour occurs in all materials, under all conditions and has a rate that is independent of the presence of fibres. Faster but incomplete drying is seen, along with faster re-absorption after drying. FTIR spectroscopy, optical microscopy and immersion trials in hexane have shown that the primary mechanism for the second stage is one of molecular relaxation, though some chemical degradation of the surface does occur. 
Water absorption relaxation diffusion moisture