Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study of Water Absorption of Polymer Composite Materials Subjected to Mechanical and Temperature Impact

Abstract

The results of a study of water absorption processes by samples of polymer composite materials(PCMs) based on fiberglass, subjected to low-speed impact with controlled impact energy and alternatingtemperature cycling are presented. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the distribution of absorbedwater in the fiberglass structure is visualized and the dynamics of its accumulation in various areas of the sampleare studied. It is found that mechanical impact leads to a nonuniform distribution of the absorbed waterin the samples and a significant accumulation of free water in the areas of destruction and adjacent layers inthe event of a violation of the integrity of the outer layer of the material. It is shown that cyclic alternatingtemperature effects do not lead to a noticeable change in the water absorption processes and are comparablein effect to mechanical nondestructive effects. The results obtained using MRI are in close agreement withthe data of traditional weight measurements, which shows the effectiveness of the method in diagnosingdefects and mechanical damage to PCMs exposed to the aquatic environment.