EFFECT OF MOISTURE ABSORPTION ON THE TENSILE PROPERTIES OF SHORT GLASS-FIBER-REINFORCED POLY(BUTYLENE TEREPHTHALATE)

Injection molded short glass fiber reinforced poly(butylene terephthalate) was subjected to hygrothermal aging at two different relative humidities-81.2% and 100% RH. A single free phase model of diffusion has been used to analyze the data obtained from the kinetics of moisture absorption study. The diffusion coefficient and the equilibrium moisture content were found to be dependent on the volume fraction of fibers and relative humidity. Incorporation of short glass fibers into a poly(butylene terephthalate) matrix has led to a significant improvement in the retention and recoverability of the tensile properties. Examination of fracture surfaces using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) has revealed some evidence for the hydrolysis of the polymer matrix. The hydrolysis resulted in the formation of microvoids, the absence of a plastic deformation process, and degradation at the fiber-matrix interface.