Study of the Moisture Absorption in Polymer Composites Reinforced with Vegetal Fiber Using Langmuir’s Model

Autor: Wanessa Raphaella Gomes dos Santos, Mirenia Kalina Teixeira de Brito, Antônio Gilson Barbosa de Lima
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2019
Předmět:
Zdroj: Materials Research, Vol 22, Iss suppl 1 (2019)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1516-1439
1980-5373
DOI: 10.1590/1980-5373-mr-2018-0848
Popis: This work aims to numerically study the moisture absorption in polymer composites reinforced with vegetal fiber, using the diffusive model of Langmuir, which considers the existence of water molecules inside the material free to diffuse and adsorb at the capillaries walls, in the solid. A three-dimensional and transient mathematical modelling to describe the water absorption process by the composite and its numerical solution via finite volume method are presented and discussed. Results of the free solute concentration, entrapped solute concentration, local moisture content and average moisture content obtained at different instants of the process are presented and analyzed. It was verified that the concentration gradients of the molecules (free and entrapped) are higher at the material surface. In addition, as the concentration of free water increases, there is also an increase in entrapped water concentration within the material at any time of the process.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals