Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Measuring time-dependent diffusion in polymer matrix composites

  • Published:
Mechanics of Time-Dependent Materials Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Moisture plays a significant role in influencing the mechanical behavior and long-term durability of polymer matrix composites (PMCs). The common methods used to determine the moisture diffusion coefficients of PMCs are based on the solution of Fickian diffusion in the one-dimensional domain. Fick’s Law assumes that equilibrium between the material surface and the external vapor is established instantaneously. A time-dependent boundary condition has been shown to improve correlation with some bulk diffusion measurements, but has not been validated experimentally. The surface moisture content in a Toray 800S/3900-2B toughened quasi-isotropic laminate system, [0/±60] s , was analyzed experimentally using Nuclear Reaction Analysis (NRA). It was found that the surface moisture content showed a rapid increase to an intermediate concentration C 0, followed by a slow linear increase to the saturation level.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • ASTM-Standard: Standard test method for moisture absorption properties and equilibrium conditioning of polymer matrix composite materials. In: D5229/D5229M-92, 2004. ASTM International, West Conshohocken (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cai, L.-W., Weitsman, Y.: Non-Fickian moisture diffusion in polymeric composites. J. Compos. Mater. 28, 130–154 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeIasi, R.J., Schulte, R.L.: Moisture detection in composites using nuclear reaction analysis. J. Compos. Mater. 13, 303–310 (1979)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fahmy, A.C., Hurt, J.C.: Stress dependence of water diffusion in epoxy resin. Polym. Compos. 1(2), 77–80 (1980)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fick, A.: On liquid diffusion. Philos. Mag. 10, 30–39 (1855)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreyszig, E.: Advanced Engineering Mathematics. Wiley, New York (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  • Long, F.A., Richman, D.: Concentration gradients for diffusion of vapor in glassy polymers and their relation to time dependent diffusion phenomena. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 82, 513–519 (1960)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matsunaga, N., Nagashima, A.: Saturation vapor pressure and critical constants of H2O, D2O, T2O and their isotopic mixtures. Int. J. Thermophys. 8(6), 681–694 (1987)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pilli, S.P., et al.: A novel accelerated moisture absorption test and characterization. Composites, Part A, Appl. Sci. Manuf. 40(9), 1501–1505 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schulte, R.L., DeIasi, R.J.: Nuclear reaction analysis for measuring moisture profiles in graphite/epoxy composites. Nucl. Instrum. Methods 168(1–3), 535–539 (1980)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schulte, R.L., DeIasi, R.J.: Moisture distribution measurements in adhesive-bonded composites using the D(3He,p)4He reaction. IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci. (April 1981)

  • Springer, G.S. (ed.): Environmental Effects on Composite Materials, Vol. I. Technomic, Lancaster (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • Springer, G.S. (ed.): Environmental Effects on Composite Materials, Vol. II. Technomic, Lancaster (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  • Springer, G.S. (ed.): Environmental Effects on Composite Materials, Vol. III. Technomic, Lancaster (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  • Weitsman, Y.J.: A continuum diffusion model for viscoelastic materials. J. Phys. Chem. 94(2), 961–968 (1990)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whiteside, J.B., DeIasi, R.J., Schulte, R.L.: Distribution of absorbed moisture in graphite/epoxy laminates after real-time environmental cycling. In: O’Brien, T.K. (ed.) Long-Term Behavior of Composites. ASTM STP, vol. 813, pp. 192–205. American Society of Testing and Materials, Philadelphia (1983)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Whiteside, J.B., DeIasi, R.J., Schulte, R.L.: Measurement of preferential moisture ingress in composite wing/spar joints. Compos. Sci. Technol. 24(2), 123–145 (1985)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

A portion of the research (particularly NRA) was performed using EMSL, a national scientific user facility sponsored by the Department of Energy’s Office of Biological and Environmental Research and located at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA

    Siva P. Pilli & Shutthanandan Vaithiyalingam

  2. Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA

    Lloyd V. Smith

Authors
  1. Siva P. Pilli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lloyd V. Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Shutthanandan Vaithiyalingam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Siva P. Pilli.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pilli, S.P., Smith, L.V. & Vaithiyalingam, S. Measuring time-dependent diffusion in polymer matrix composites. Mech Time-Depend Mater 18, 633–641 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11043-012-9175-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11043-012-9175-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation