Influence of Absorbed Moisture on the Dielectric Properties of Epoxy Resins

The dielectric response of two bisphenol-A epoxy resin systems Araldite CY1301 (T-g similar to 50 degrees C) and Araldite CY1311 (T-g similar to 0 degrees C) was studied at different levels of absorbed moisture. The dielectric measurements were carried out over the frequency range 1 mHz to 100 kHz and the results were characterised in terms of dc bulk electrical conduction and dielectric processes. The characteristic parameters (frequency and magnitude) of all processes have been found to be moisture dependent. In both resins above the glass transition temperature, absorbed moisture was found to be implicated in the formation of a bulk quasi-dc dielectric response consistent with cluster formation of the absorbed water molecules.