Hygrothermal Characterization and Diffusion Studies on Carbon/Epoxy Composites

Abstract

Hygrothermal studies were carried out on unidirectional (UD) carbon fiber epoxy (LY 5052) composites at Vf= 0.5 and have been carried out for three different cases viz. 45°C/85% RH, 45°C/95% RH and 45°C/immersion (100% RH) till saturation is reached. In all cases composite specimens of different test configurations [Longitudinal Tensile (LT), Transverse Tensile (TT), Longitudinal Compression (LC), and Transverse Compression (TC)] were subjected to the above conditions and their diffusion behaviour studied. Generally, the specimens under the above conditions exhibited Fickian diffusion behavior.

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