Abstract
Transport phenomena in porous media represent an important research area related to heat and mass transfer, and fluid flow fields. This chapter presents information about anomalous behaviour of moisture transient diffusion in vegetable fiber-reinforced composites materials. Composites reinforced with natural fibers are sensitive to influences from environmental agents such as moisture and temperature. Herein, topics related to theory, experiments, mathematical modeling and solution procedures, and technological applications are presented and discussed in detail. An advanced model that (Langmuir-type model) to describe water absorption in polymer composites and the analytical (Laplace transform technique) and numerical (finite-volume method) solutions of the governing equation has been obtained, considering constant thermo-physical properties. In the Langmuir model, moisture sorption can be explained by assuming that water exists in the free and bound phases inside the material. Application has been done to water uptake in Caroa fiber-reinforced polymer composites. Results of the absorption kinetics and concentration distribution of water (free and trapped water molecules) within the material along the process are presented and analyzed. Predicted results compared to experimental data of average moisture content have shown that the model was effective for description of the phenomenon, allowing a better understanding about the effects of moisture migration mechanisms.
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