Effect of moisture absorption on the mechanical behavior of carbon fiber/epoxy matrix composites

A carbon fiber/epoxy unidirectional laminated composite was exposed to a humid environment and the effect of moisture absorption on the mechanical properties and failure modes was investigated. The composites were exposed to three humidity conditions, namely, 25, 55, and 95 % at a constant temperature of 25 °C. The carbon fiber–epoxy laminated composites for two different carbon fiber surface treatments were used. The results showed that the mechanical properties differ considerably for each fiber surface treatment. The application of a coupling agent enhanced the fiber-matrix adhesion and reduced dependence of the properties on humidity. The damage mechanism observed at micromechanical level was correlated to acoustic emission signals from both laminated composites. The untreated carbon fiber failure mode was attributed to fiber-matrix interfacial failure and for the silane-treated carbon fiber reinforced epoxy laminate attributed to matrix yielding followed by fiber failure with no signs of fiber-matrix interface failure for moisture contents up to 1.89 %.