Glass fiber reinforced composite offers a high strength-to-weight ratio, making them vital in automotive applications for interior dashboards, door panels, and car body panels. This work focuses on the effect of water absorption in glass fiber reinforced composite with different matrix materials (epoxy/polyester/Cashew nut shell liquid/cardanol-based bio-epoxy). The composite samples are prepared through compression molding technique and subjected to mechanical tensile testing (ASTM D3039) and water absorption test for characterization. The water absorption test for composite is conducted by immersing the samples in deionized water at room temperature (ASTM D5229). The absorption behavior follows Fick’s law and is quantified using weight gain and diffusion characteristics, based on which the transport kinetics and water absorption coefficients are computed. The results indicate that the presence of CNSL or its derivative as matrix component in the composite samples reduces the water absorption behavior. Based on the contact angle measurement of the water droplet, the cardanol-based bio-epoxy and CNSL are observed to be more hydrophobic compared to epoxy and polyester resin. The cardanol-based bio-epoxy specimen exhibited the lowest water uptake (1.37%), indicating excellent water resistance compared to other thermosetting resin, and a higher contact angle (113.2°) indicates its hydrophobic nature. In addition, cardanol-based bio-epoxy and CNSL have better thermal stability compared to other matrix materials. Under mechanical tensile testing, the prolonged exposure to water absorption (saturated wet samples) decreases the tensile strength and stiffness of the material. Also, the interfacial debonding and fracture are observed to be more in wet samples compared to dry. Among the polymer matrix materials considered, cardanol-based bio-epoxy is more sustainable in nature, with better interfacial bonding and hydrophobicity.
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