and salt spray for 2000 h. For all types of exposures in environmental
chambers, higher damage in transverse flexural strength were
observed in the first 800 h of exposure time as compared to the rest
of the exposure duration. This can be attributed to loss in fiber–
matrix interface toughness due to significant moisture uptake
and extensive UV-induced microcracks on the surface of specimens
during first stage of exposure (800 h). On the other hand, for combined
exposure to UV and moisture (i.e., humidity or salt spray), an
insignificant loss in transverse flexural modulus was observed during
the first 800 h exposure time. This is due to the fact that laminates’
thickness starts to decrease continuously due to the erosion
of UV-irradiated surfaces after about 700 h exposure to combined
UV and moisture (Fig. 1), resulting in significant decrease in transverse
flexural modulus during longer exposure times. This is not
the case for transverse flexural modulus of specimens exposed to