Comparison of water permeation behaviour in poly(dimethylsiloxane), poly(ether ether ketone), and glass fibre reinforced composites using dielectric spectroscopy

This paper describes the use of dielectric spectroscopy to characterise the absorption of water by three different classes of polymeric materials: an elastomer, poly(dimelhylsiloxane); a thermoplastic, poly(ether ether ketone ); and two composites, polyester and vinyl ester glass fibre reinforced lam inates (GRP). Novel approaches have been used to assess water absorption by the elastomer and the GRP and the results are critically assessed. The dat a for all the materials an discussed in the contest of their molecular stru ctures. The applicability and limitations of these dielectric methods for t he assessment of water absorption in polymeric materials that have consider ably different physical properties is demonstrated.