A Review on Permeable And Impermeable Fiber Composites under Hygrothermal Conditioning

Fiber reinforced structural laminates are extensively being used in aerospace industries due to their high strength to weight ratio, non-corrosiveness and durability. During their service life, fiber reinforced structural laminates are exposed to different environmental conditions, which can severely or mildly affect their mechanical and thermal properties over time, in turn affecting their performance. This makes it necessary to study the effect of different environmental factors on fiber reinforced composites in order to use them to their highest potential. This review paper discusses the necessity to study hygrothermal effects and ageing processes of laminated polymer composites along with the popular research approaches, theories and models. The highly popular Fickian model for moisture absorption and its validity in permeable and non-permeable composites and the works carried out using this model are a major point of discussion along with the failures and drawbacks of the model.