| Abstract: | The hygroscopic behavior of sandwich structures composed of E‐glass/polyester face sheets bonded to a PVC foam core exposed to 95% relative humidity and immersed in sea‐water is examined herein. Moisture uptake was monitored for 11 months yielding absorption curves for samples of polyester resin, laminated composites, PVC foam core, and a sandwich structure. The coefficients of diffusion and moisture saturation values extracted from the curves are significantly greater for the water immersed condition than for the exposed to elevated moisture one, and point to the foam core as the most absorbing material in the sandwich structure. The measured absorption curves are compared to a diffusion model which employs the calculated coefficient of diffusion, showing good agreement. POLYM. COMPOS., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers |
