Effect of water absorption on mechanical properties of flax fibre reinforced composites

Abstract

Scutched and line flax fibres, with mean linear density of about 19.5 decitex, were utilized for this study. Mechanical properties of fibre and resin were measured for assessing their contribution in the composite matrix. Polypropylene (PP)/ short flax fibre composites were prepared by compounding, extrusion and injection moulding techniques. Polypropylene-graft-Maleic anhydride (PP-g-MA, Grade: G-3015) and Polyethylene-graft-Maleic anhydride (PE-g-MA, Grade: G-2608) were used as compatibilizer for improving the adhesion between fibre and matrix. The mechanical properties, such as tensile, flexural and Izod impact, of the composites were investigated before and after water absorption. The moisture uptake of the resultant composite materials was studied daily and their properties were measured after 7, 14 and 21 days at room temperature. The fracture morphology of the composites was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). This paper presents the results of this ongoing project