Characteristics and Models of Moisture Uptake in Fiber-Reinforced Composites: A Topical Review

Fiber-reinforced composites are commonly exposed to environments associated with moisture and solution, resulting in uptake, which causes changes in the bulk resin, the fiber-matrix interface, and even the fiber itself. Knowledge about uptake behavior and diffusion mechanisms and characteristics are critical to better understanding the response of these materials to environmental exposure faced through service to developing better materials through selection of constituents and to the prediction of long-term durability. This paper reviews aspects of uptake mechanisms and subsequent response, as well as models that describe the sorption process, with the aim of providing a comprehensive understanding of moisture-uptake-related phenomena and characteristics such as uptake rate, diffusion and relaxation/deterioration constants, transitions in regimes, and overall response.