Non-destructive, three-dimensional monitoring of water absorption in polyurethane foams using magnetic resonance imaging

Non-destructive techniques to monitor the dynamics and spatial distribution of material properties are of critical importance in the development and assessment of future technical applications. The water absorption of polyurethane foams was investigated for the first time using magnetic resonance imaging. Small amounts of water were detected with high sensitivity. The dynamics of water penetration in the samples were recorded over an interval of 67 days and quantified gravimetrically. Different patterns of water absorption were visualized. Irregularities in the samples facilitated water absorption. The interfaces between foams, embedded structures and surrounding materials, as well as their resistance to water penetration, was studied. Magnetic resonance imaging, with its high spatial and temporal resolution, proved to be a valuable tool for precisely and non-destructively analyzing the behavior of polyurethane foams against water penetration. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.