Fibre/matrix adhesion of cellulose fibres in PLA,PP and MAPP: A critical review of pull-out test,microbond test and single fibre fragmentation test results

The present work deals with the practical fibre/matrix adhesion of regenerated cellulose fibres (lyocell) and bast fibre bundles (flax, kenaf) in different matrices (polylactide-PLA, polypropylene-PP, maleic-anhydride-grafted polypropylene-MAPP). The influence of different testing procedures (pull-out test, microbond test, fragmentation test) on the fibre/matrix characteristics is discussed. The results of the different tests showed the same trends, but the absolute values differ. Clearly higher interfacial shear strength (IFSS) for cellulose fibres was found in PLA and MAPP in comparison to PP due to higher polarity. In addition, bast fibres displayed higher apparent IFSS values compared to lyocell because of their rougher surface and their chemical composition. The apparent IFSS of the pull-out test resulted in higher values compared to results obtained from the fragmentation test. This phenomenon is explained by different stress distributions due to variable specimen geometry, different behaviour of failure and the friction which occurs between fibre and matrix during fibre pull-out in the pull-out test.     

Influence of an Agatha flax fibre location in a stem on its mechanical,chemical and morphological properties

The mechanical properties of flax fibres are analysed as a function of their biochemical and morphological characteristics. The fibres, from the Agatha variety, have been selected from either the top, the middle or the bottom of the stems. The results of each analysis are discussed according to the position of the fibre in the stem and compared among themselves. Considering a flax fibre as a natural composite, this study underlines the complexity of its structure and shows that many parameters intervene in its deformation behaviour.     

Multi-scale shear properties of flax fibre reinforced polyamide 11 biocomposites

Multiscale analyses are carried out to evaluate and understand the shear properties and behaviour of a flax fibre reinforced polyamide 11 (PA 11) biocomposite. Tensile tests of [±45]_n laminates are performed to evaluate the macroscale in-plane shear properties, while microbond tests are performed to evaluate the apparent interfacial shear strength. Although the shear stiffness of PA 11 biocomposites is lower than the available literature values, the shear strength is higher due to a relatively high interfacial bonding strength. Flax/PA 11 interfacial bonding is controlled by hydrogen bonding rather than adhesive pressure induced by residual thermal stress. A superficial fibre cell-wall layer (primary cell-wall) is observed at different scales, which highlights the contribution of the global structure of flax fibres to the shear properties of biocomposites.     

Effect of humidity during manufacturing on the interfacial strength of non-pre-dried flax fibre/unsaturated polyester composites

The influence of moisture content in the environment during manufacture of a novel cobalt-free UP matrix reinforced with flax fibres, on the fibre–matrix adhesion was studied. Flax surface energy was experimentally determined by measuring contact angles on technical fibres, using the Wilhelmy technique and the acid–base theory. The mechanical strength of the interface under different humidity conditions was characterized by the critical local value of interfacial shear stress, τ_d, at the moment of crack initiation, which was assessed by single-fibre pull-out tests. Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis gave further insight into the topic. The results suggest that the effect of humidity during manufacturing on the composite interface might be limited. However, longitudinal composite strength decreased somewhat for composites produced in humid conditions, showing that there is some detrimental effect of high levels of moisture during cure on the fibre mechanical performance, likely caused by some fibre degradation.     

Flax fibre and its composites – A review

In recent years, the use of flax fibres as reinforcement in composites has gained popularity due to an increasing requirement for developing sustainable materials. Flax fibres are cost-effective and offer specific mechanical properties comparable to those of glass fibres. Composites made of flax fibres with thermoplastic, thermoset, and biodegradable matrices have exhibited good mechanical properties. This review presents a summary of recent developments of flax fibre and its composites. Firstly, the fibre structure, mechanical properties, cost, the effect of various parameters (i.e. relative humidity, various physical/chemical treatments, gauge length, fibre diameter, fibre location in a stem, oleaginous, mechanical defects such as kink bands) on tensile properties of flax fibre have been reviewed. Secondly, the effect of fibre configuration (i.e. in forms of fabric, mat, yarn, roving and monofilament), manufacturing processes, fibre volume, and fibre/matrix interface parameters on the mechanical properties of flax fibre reinforced composites have been reviewed. Next, the studies of life cycle assessment and durability investigation of flax fibre reinforced composites have been reviewed.     

The effect of mechanical defects on the strength distribution of elementary flax fibres

Flax fibres are finding non-traditional applications as reinforcement of composite materials. The mechanical properties of fibres are affected by the natural variability in plant as well as the damage accumulated during processing, and thus have considerable variability that necessitates statistical treatment of fibre characteristics. The strength distribution of elementary flax fibres has been determined at several fibre lengths by standard tensile tests, and the amount of kink bands in the fibres evaluated by optical microscopy. Strength distribution function, based on the assumption that the presence of kink bands limits fibre strength, is derived and found to provide reasonable agreement with test results.     

An original approach for mechanical modelling of short-fibre reinforced composites with complex distributions of fibre orientation

In this paper, an original and effective model of behaviour for short-fibre reinforced composites is presented. In particular, complex fibre distributions of orientation can be dealt with in a very easy way, without orientation averaging or additional homogenisation steps. The matrix material has elastoplastic damage behaviour with non-isochoric plastic flow. Ductile damage can be fully anisotropic depending on the reinforcement characteristics. The model is validated for the case of a polypropylene reinforced with short flax fibres. In addition, simulations are performed to investigate the influence of key parameters like fibre length and interfacial shear strength, as well as the impact of progressive debonding at the fibre tips.     

Study of water behaviour of chemically treated flax fibres-based composites: A way to approach the hydric interface

Silane (Si) and styrene (S) treatments were applied on flax fibres in order to improve their adhesion with a polyester resin and to increase their moisture resistance. The water sorption and permeation kinetics of the composites were correlated with the water sorption behaviour of untreated and treated fibres. An increase of the water barrier effect was observed in treated fibres-based composites in comparison with untreated ones. This was related to the shift-down of water solubility and to a decrease of the water diffusivity in treated fibre-based composites. In the case of (S) treatment, the presence of styrene increased the moisture resistance of the treated fibres and made compatible the fibres and the matrix. In the case of (Si) treatment, a good hydric fibre/matrix interface was obtained due to crosslinking reactions and hydrogen bonding between water molecules and free hydroxyl groups of (Si) treated fibres. In order to interpret water permeation behaviour of composite films, a simple illustrated model is suggested and represented by a schematic view.     

Advantages of regenerated cellulose fibres as compared to flax fibres in the processability and mechanical performance of thermoset composites

Man-made cellulosic fibres (MMCFs) have attracted widespread interest as the next generation of fibre reinforced composite. However, most studies focused entirely on their performance on single fibre level and little attention has been paid to their behaviour on a larger application scale. In this study, MMCFs were utilized as reinforcement in unidirectionally (UD) manufactured thermoset composites and compared to several commercial UD flax fibre products. Specimens were prepared using a vacuum bag based resin infusion technique and the respective laminates characterized in terms of void fraction and mechanical properties. MMCF laminates had comparable or better mechanical performance when compared to flax fibre laminates. Failure mechanisms of MMCF laminates were noted to differ from those of flax-reinforced laminates. The results demonstrate the potential of MMCFs as a viable alternative to glass fibre for reinforcement on a larger scale of UD laminates. These results were utilized in the Biofore biomaterial demonstration vehicle.     

Effects of fabric parameters on the tensile behaviour of sustainable cementitious composites

The mechanical behaviour of fabric-reinforced composites can be affected by several parameters, such as the properties of fabrics and matrix, the fibre content, the bond interphase and the anchorage ability of fabrics. In this study, the effects of the fibre type, the fabric geometry, the physical and mechanical properties of fabrics and the volume fraction of fibres on the tensile stress–strain response and crack propagation of cementitious composites reinforced with natural fabrics were studied. To further examine the properties of the fibres, mineral fibres (glass) were also used to study the tensile behaviour of glass fabric-reinforced composites and contrast the results with those obtained for the natural fabric-reinforced composites. Composite samples were manufactured by the hand lay-up moulding technique using one, two and three layers of flax and sisal fabric strips and a natural hydraulic lime (NHL) grouting mix. Considering fabric geometry and physical properties such as the mass per unit area and the linear density, the flax fabric provided better anchorage development than the sisal and glass fabrics in the cement-based composites. The fabric geometry and the volume fraction of fibres were the parameters that had the greatest effects on the tensile behaviour of these composite systems.     

Could biopolymers reinforced by randomly scattered flax fibre be used in structural applications?

Thermoplastics reinforced by natural fibres are mainly used for fitting-up products in the automotive industry. The aim of this work is to study the tensile properties of natural fibre-biopolymer composites in order to determine whether or not, biocomposites may replace glass fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester resins. The materials used are flax fibre, polylactic acid (PLA), l-polylactide acid (PLLA), poly(3-hydroxylbutyrate) (PHB), polycaprolactone and starch thermoplastic (MaterBi® Z), poly(butylene succianate) (PBS) and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephtalate) (PBAT). The tensile properties of the flax fibres have already been determined [C. Baley, Analysis of the flax fibres tensile behaviour and analysis of the tensile stiffness increase, Comp Part A 2002;33:939–948]. The composites are manufactured using a film stacking technique. After studying the processing parameters, these are then adapted to each thermoplastic composites. Test samples are cut out from the composites to test their mechanical properties under tensile loading conditions. These tensile properties are then compared to those of similar polypropylene flax composites. Preliminary results show that the tensile properties are improved with the fibre volume fraction. The tensile strength and Young’s modulus of PLLA and PLA flax composites are greater than those of similar PP/flax fibre composites. The specific tensile strength and modulus of flax fibre/PLLA composite have proved to be very close to those of glass fibre polyester composites.     

Impact and post-impact damage characterisation of hybrid composite laminates based on basalt fibres in combination with flax,hemp and glass fibres manufactured by vacuum infusion

The impact and flexural post-impact behaviour of ternary hybrid composites based on epoxy resin reinforced with different types of fibres, basalt (B), flax (F), hemp (H) and glass (G) in textile form, namely FHB, GHB and GFB, has been investigated. The reinforcement volume employed was in the order of 21–23% throughout. Laminates based exclusively on basalt, hemp and flax fibres were also fabricated for comparison. Hybrid laminates showed an intermediate performance between basalt fibre reinforced laminates on the high side, and flax and hemp fibre reinforced laminates on the low side. As for impact performance, GHB appears to be the worst performing hybrid laminate and FHB slightly overperforms GFB. In general, an increased rigidity can be attributed to all hybrids with respect to flax and hemp fibre composites. The morphological study of fracture by SEM indicated the variability of mode of fracture of flax and hemp fibre laminates and of the hybrid configuration (FHB) containing both of them. Acoustic emission monitoring during post-impact flexural tests confirmed the proneness to delamination of FHB hybrids, whilst they were able to better withstand impact damage than the other hybrids.     

Strength and adhesion characteristics of elementary flax fibres with different surface treatments

It is known that the best flax fibres can compete in terms of mechanical properties with glass fibres. However, during the manufacturing process flax fibres are often damaged, and hence, the properties can be lowered. Furthermore, these properties change from batch to batch (depending on the time and place of harvest), which means that they are somewhat unpredictable. The most affected fibre property is strength, which can vary in very wide interval due to defects introduced by the manufacturing process. Therefore, there is a need for a simple but reliable testing procedure that allows the estimation of the strength of flax fibres, so called quality control. Regarding the final goal, that is the development of natural fibre composites, another crucial property is the fibre/matrix adhesion. The objective of this study is to investigate the possibility to use the single fibre fragmentation test to characterize strength distribution of flax fibres and to evaluate the adhesion. Untreated flax fibres and fibres coated by a special surface treatment are used. Fragmentation tests are performed on flax fibres embedded in thermoset, vinylester and polyester, resins. Results show that there is a definite improvement in interfacial strength when a fibre surface treatment is applied. Fibre strength distribution is obtained from SFFT and compared with limited results available from single flax fibre tests.     

Fibre cross-section determination and variability in sisal and flax and its effects on fibre performance characterisation

The results of a study on the measurement of fibre cross-section and its variability in flax and sisal fibres are presented. Cross-section values obtained from fibre “diameter” measurements were more than double the values obtained from actual observation of cross-sections of the same individual fibres. The overall conclusion is that fibre “diameter” measurement is not an attractive method for accurate estimation of cross-sectional area of these natural fibres. This conclusion is significant for researchers engaged in micromechanical investigation of natural fibre composites since differences in fibre cross-section translate directly into differences of the same magnitude in the values obtained for the fibre modulus and strength. The error in fibre cross-section introduced by the “diameter” method scales with the average fibre “diameter” which may also result in erroneous observations of fibre modulus and strength scaling inversely with natural fibre “diameter”. The difference in average cross-section observed from fibre to fibre was significantly greater than the variation along the length of each individual fibre. The minimum to maximum cross-section variability of individual flax fibres was found to be approximately twice that observed for sisal fibres.     

Finite element study of compressively loaded fibres fractured during impact

This paper examines the compressive behaviour of plies with fibres previously fractured during impact. The analysis is conducted using finite element (FE) modelling in ABAQUS 6.7. Two- and three- dimensional models are used to consider the possibility of fibre penetration and “brooming” of fractured fibres, or fibre buckling. A parametric study of the influence of the input parameters of the Drucker Prager plasticity model was also conducted, to enable a better understanding of the model. This was used to capture the triaxial stress state in the matrix surrounding the fibres. The results suggest that fibre buckling is more likely to occur due to the geometry of fibres and fibre spacing in carbon fibre composites, but fibre penetration could still occur in regions of low fibre volume fraction.     

Development of durable cementitious composites using sisal and flax fabrics for reinforcement of masonry structures

Natural fibres are one of the most studied materials. However, the use of these fibres as reinforcements in composite materials for structural applications, especially for existing or historical masonry structures, remains a challenge. In this study, efforts were made to develop sustainable composites using cementitious matrices reinforced with untreated bi-directional fabrics of natural fibres, namely, flax and sisal fibres. The fibres were mechanically characterised by tensile tests performed on both single yarns and fabric strips. Ageing effects due to fibre mineralisation in alkaline cement paste environments may cause a reduction in the tensile strength of natural fibres. The matrices used to study fibre durability were a natural hydraulic lime-based mortar (NLM) mix with a low content of water-soluble salts and a lime-based grouting (NLG) mix containing natural pozzolans and carbonated filler. Tensile tests on impregnated single yarns subjected to wetting and drying cycles by exposure to external weathering were conducted at different ages to quantify these problems. Composite specimens were manufactured by the hand lay-up moulding technique using untreated fibre strips and an NLG matrix. The mechanical response of natural fibre reinforced cementitious (NFRC) composites was measured under tension, and the effect of the matrix thickness was also addressed. Both sisal and flax fibres showed good adhesion with the NLG matrix, making them capable of producing composites with ductile behaviour and suitable mechanical performance for strengthening applications in masonry structures.     

Hybridisation effect on diffusion kinetic and tensile mechanical behaviour of epoxy based flax–glass composites

This paper aims at investigating the hybridisation effect on the diffusion kinetic and the tensile mechanical behaviour of flax–glass fibres reinforced epoxy composites. For this purpose, hybrid composites composed of flax and glass fibre laminates with different stacking sequences were consolidated by compression moulding and subjected to environment ageing. The obtained results show that the water uptake and the diffusion coefficient are clearly reduced by the addition of glass fibre layers in flax laminate. The ageing conditions performed show that the flax–glass hybridisation presents a positive effect in a wet environment at low temperatures (∼20 °C) in the Young’s modulus and the tensile strength. For example, the Young’s modulus fell by 50% and 41% for hybrid laminates with 6% and 11% of glass fibres, and by 67% for the Flax laminate. However, the flax–glass hybridisation was not necessarily a relevant choice when the hybrid laminates were exposed in a wet environment at high temperatures. Indeed, at 55 °C, this hybridisation had a negative effect on the tensile strength and on the specific tensile strength.     

Mechanical enhancement of cement-stabilized soil by flax fibre reinforcement and extrusion processing

Cement-based materials typically exhibit low tensile strength and their behaviour is generally brittle. Fibres can be added to make composites with enhanced tensile response and toughness. This study focuses on the effects of flax fibre content, mix design and processing on the hardened product properties (density, fibre orientation, surface quality, compressive and tensile strength). Effects of fibre addition on the mechanical performance of cast and extruded flax fibre reinforced composites are compared. Microstructure observations are used to study the influence of processing on fibre–matrix bond, fibre dispersion and fibre orientation. Flax fibre dispersion and orientation are also investigated to understand their effect on mechanical behaviour. In the case of cast materials, fibres do not significantly improve the mechanical behaviour. In contrast, improvement of fibre dispersion and fibre/matrix bond quality due to an extrusion process enhances mechanical performance.     

Investigation of damage mechanism of flax fibre LPET commingled composites by acoustic emission

Tensile failure and fracture behaviour of parallel laid twisted flax fibre reinforced low melting polyethylene terephthalate (LPET) composites were investigated. The tensile failure results of the model specimens were compared with AE results in terms of amplitude, energy and counts. The failure results of the flax fibre LPET composites exhibited mainly matrix crack initiation as a brittle failure for low, medium and high fibre contents. Since the composites at high fibre contents have higher porosity content, they show higher strain to failure, higher variation in the tensile results and have different appearances on their fracture surfaces than those of the composites at low and medium fibre contents.     

Characteristics of Hermès flax fibres as a function of their location in the stem and properties of the derived unidirectional composites

The tensile mechanical properties of flax fibres from the Hermès variety are estimated according to their diameter and their location in the stems. The large scattering of these properties is ascribed to the variation of the fibre size along its longitudinal axis, as revealed by SEM observations. The higher values of the mechanical properties for the fibres issued from the middle of the stems are associated with the chemical composition of their cell walls. The mechanical properties of unidirectional flax fibre/epoxy matrix composites are studied as a function of their fibre content. The properties of the composites are lower than those expected from single fibre characteristics.