The influence of external factors like relative humidity (0) and ambient temperature .m on the moisture absorption behaviour of permeable {Jute-Epoxy)Land impermeable13; (Glass Epoxy and Graphite-Epoxy) types of composites were reported. The respective equilibrium moisture contents (M and Mm) increased exponentially relative humidity. The diffusion coefficients of both type of composites :and Dc) increased with ambient temperature and could be represented by an Arrhenius relationship.13; The permeable composite showed a higher exponential power on the relative humidity term than the impermeable composite (2.64 for Jute composite as compared to 2.0 reported by Shen and Springer for a graphite composite) and a lower activation energy for diffusion (0.9 x 103 cal. mole-t for the jute composite as compared to 4.429 x 103cal. mole-t obtained for a glass composite). These trends were attributed to the fibre permeability leading to different diffusion barriers in such composites.13
