The effect of moisture-induced swelling on the absorption capacity of transversely isotropic elastic polymer-matrix composites

Katell Derrien (1) , Pierre Gilormini (1)

1 PIMM - Laboratoire Procédés et Ingénierie en Mécanique et Matériaux

The interaction between humid air and transversely isotropic fiber-reinforced composites with swelling polymeric matrix is considered. A model is proposed for the water saturation level in a polymer when stresses are applied, that uses directly obtainable material parameters only. In a composite, the reinforcements modify the water uptake of the polymer matrix because of the internal stresses that are induced by its restricted swelling, and this effect is evaluated. As a consequence of the coupling between stresses and absorption capacity, the sorption isotherm of a composite is ruled by the (nonlinear) Langmuir equation when the unreinforced matrix obeys the (linear) Henry's law.

Mots clés: polymères; gonflement hydrique; composites

Domaines: Polymères

Katell Derrien, Pierre Gilormini. The effect of moisture-induced swelling on the absorption capacity of transversely isotropic elastic polymer-matrix composites. International Journal of Solids and Structures, 2009, pp.1547-1553. ⟨hal-00773039⟩