Effect of Temperature and Moisture on the Mechanical Properties of Fiber Reinforced Nylon 6 Composites

• Published in: Challenges in Mechanics of Time Dependent Materials, Volume 2 pp. 109 - 118
• Main Authors: Celestine, Asha-Dee N., Zhu, S. Sherry
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Springer International Publishing AG 2016; Springer International Publishing
• Series: Conference Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Mechanics Series
• Subjects: Building construction & materials; Composites; Elevated temperatures; Fiber orientation; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING & MATERIALS; Moisture absorption; Nylon 6; Testing of materials
• ISBN: 3319415425; 9783319415420
• ISSN: 2191-5644; 2191-5652
• DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-41543-7_14

The mechanical performance of nylon 6 composites can be adversely affected by environmental conditions. This paper examines the effects of elevated temperature and moisture on the tensile properties of nylon 6 composites reinforced with discontinuous and continuous fibers. Plasticizing effects are observed with increasing moisture content and temperature (98 degrees Celsius) but these effects are reversed at 150 degrees Celsius due to hydrolysis of the nylon matrix. The length and orientation of the reinforcing fibers are shown to influence the amount of moisture absorbed in the composites, and also influence the evolution of strength and modulus at elevated temperatures. Nylon 6 composites with continuous, aligned fibers retain their mechanical properties after exposure to increased moisture and temperature much better than composites with discontinuous, randomly aligned fibers.