THE EFFECT of HYGROTHERMAL AGING on SWELLING and T_g DEPRESSION for a PARTICLE-FILLED, EPOXY-BASED ADHESIVE

摘要

The work suggests that the swelling due to water uptake proceeds through the stage of water cluster formation in the adhesive. The water in the free volume is the decisive factor for the depression of T_g. The swelling does not alter the free volume of the adhesive system, therefore, the depression of T_g proceeds to a definite value which is governed by the free volume fraction but not the final equilibrium water content of the system. The increase of saturated water content for different hygrothermal aging temperatures is not correlated to the T_g depression.