Influence of moisture absorption on the flexural properties of composites made of epoxy resin reinforced with low-content iron particles

Abstract

In this work, the effect of moisture absorption on the mechanical properties of particulate composite materials is studied. Moisture absorption constitutes a main parameter affecting the thermomechanical behaviour of composites, since it causes plasticization of the polymer matrix with a concurrent swelling. In the present work, the influence of water absorption on the flexural properties of particle-reinforced composites was thoroughly investigated. It was found that during the process of moisture absorption there exists a variation of the flexural properties closely related to the degradation of the mechanical behaviour of the composite, as well as the percentage amount of moisture absorbed. Experiments were carried out with composite made of epoxy resin reinforced with low-content iron particles. The variation of ultimate stress, breaking strain, deflection, elastic modulus and Poisson ratio due to water absorption was examined.