Accelerated Environmental Testing of Composites

A procedure is presented for accelerated environmental testing of composites, which yields the test conditions required to achieve a desired moisture content in the shortest time. Charts are presented from which the appropriate test conditions can readily be deter mined. The use of the charts is illustrated by an example. Tests were also performed to assess the validity and accuracy of the proposed procedure. Data, obtained with Fiberite T300/976 fabric, show that the moisture contents and the mechanical properties of the material are nearly the same after "regular" and "accelerated" environmental conditioning.