NMR Applications for Polymer Composite Materials Moisture Uptake Investigation

The 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, NMR imaging, and pulsed field gradient NMR (PFG NMR) were applied for comparative study of moisture–polymer composite materials (PCM) interaction. The water uptake in PCM reinforced by aramid and carbon fibers was measured by NMR spectroscopy techniques. The aramid fiber-reinforced PCM absorbs water more intensively compared with PCM reinforced by carbon fiber, but both of them are retaining water inside of pores without formation of chemical bonds. Using NMR imaging the spatial distribution of water absorbed was visualized; preferable water pathways and influence of surface treatment on water-resistant properties were revealed. It was found that the surface rough treatment sufficiently improves the water absorption, but penetration of water molecules is still occurring only through the surfaces and it happens within a thin layer. PFG NMR technique revealed influence of pore structure on moisture–PCM interaction; it was found that additionally to strong hydrophobic properties of carbon fiber, the smaller total volume of pores sufficiently decrease the water uptake. Results achieved in this work demonstrate efficiency of NMR methods applied all together for investigation of PCM, and information obtained is practically important when designing advanced PCM with required properties.