Variation of the thermal diffusivity of glass and carbon fiber-epoxy composites as a function of water absorption

Polymeric matrix composites can be degraded due to their exposure to wet environments. In this work, the thermal diffusivity of glass and carbon reinforced polymer-matrix composites is determined, and the variability of this property is evaluated as a function of the amount of absorbed water. The results obtained are discussed with respect to the efficiency of the heat exchange capacity of each composite.