Advanced Mathematical Modeling of Moisture Transport in Polymer Composite Materials: State-of-the-Art and Numerical Computation
摘要
The transport process in porous media and porous materials play an important role in the research area of heat and mass transfer. This chapter focuses on the transient diffusion of moisture in polymer composites materials. Herein, topics related to theory, experiments, mathematical modeling, and engineering applications are presented and discussed in detail. Mathematical models to predict moisture migration in polymer composites ranged from well-known Fick’s diffusion model to an anomalous diffusion model (Langmuir-type model). For each cited model, analytical and/or numerical solutions of the governing equation have been presented. Application has been done to water uptake in vegetable fiber-reinforced polymer composites. An in-depth discussion is carried out related to the experimental and numerical transient results of water absorption in the material, thus providing a better understanding of the influence of moisture on the material.