The Equivalence of Moisture and Temperature in Physical Aging of Polymeric Composites

Abstract

The relation between moisture and temperature effects on physical aging of polymeric composite IM7/977-3 was studied by using momentary creep tests. Off-axis coupon specimens were used to obtain the momentary compliance for different aging times with two test conditions: (1) dry specimen under several isothermal conditions, and (2) wet specimen with different moisture contents under isothermal 23°C. Choosing the data for the 23°C and dry condition as the reference state, the moisture-temperature equivalence of the elastic and creep compliances in physical aging was established. For the elastic compliance, the equivalence was established for all aging times considered. For the aging effect on creep compliance, the equivalence was established only for a selected aging time. Such an equivalence may allow us to substitute the moisture effect creep test on physical aging with tests under equivalent temperatures.