BEHAVIORAL STUDY OF MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF GLASS FIBER-EPOXY COMPOSITES UNDER MOISTURE ABSORPTION

The effect of moisture on mechanical properties of glass fiber-epoxy composites was investigated. Composite specimens of woven glass fiber and epoxy resin with different wt.% of glass fiber (40 & 60) were prepared. The specimens were subjected to different hygrothermal conditions viz., cold soaking and boiling soaking, to study the effect moisture on tensile and flexural strength of these composites. The weights of the specimens were recurrently checked before and after the soaking, to calculate the amount of moisture absorption. Mechanical tests viz., tensile and flexural tests were carried out according to ASTM D3039 and D7264 standard, respectively. The results reveled that, increase in glass fiber weight percentage increased the tensile strength, but decreased the flexural strength. Tensile and flexural strength for soaked samples had decreased vividly as compared to the dry samples.