Effect of prepreg storage humidity on the mixed-mode fracture toughness of a co-cured composite joint

The present work investigated the effect of the level of prepreg moisture content on the mixed-mode fracture toughness of a co-cured composite joint. It was found that moisture was stored in the prepreg as either free or bound water. It was also shown that the prepreg stores moisture from high humidity environments as free water, while the level of bound water remains unaffected. The excessive moisture was shown to plasticise the adhesive, lowering the glass transition temperature. The fracture toughness decreased under mode I and mode II loading as the humidity level was increased. The mixed-mode toughness also reduced with increasing storage humidity. However, the measured mixed-mode fracture toughness never reduced below
that of the joints fabricated using the as-received material. This indicates that the moisture has a more pronounced effect on the bulk properties of the adhesive rather than on the interfacial adhesion between the composite and adhesive.