Moisture penetration into composites under external stress

Abstract Moisture penetration at 95°C into glass fiber and graphite fiber‐reinforced epoxies is examined in stressed and unstressed materials. The study focuses on the effect of the angle between the stress and the fiber directions on the diffusivities. It is found that the consequence of applying external stresses to composites is an increase in their rate of moisture absorption, their maximum moisture content, and in the diffusion coefficients. As the angle between the loading and fiber directions in increased the rate and the maximum value of moisture absorption also increase. Their ratio, however, remains constant resulting in loading angle independence of the exposure of the composites to water produces a typical damage mechanism which enhances moisture take‐up.