The knowledge of the behaviour of flax fibres is of crucial importance for their use as a reinforcement for composites materials. Flax fibres were tested under tensile loading and in repeated loading–unloading experiments. We have shown that fibre stiffness increases with the strain. This phenomenon is attributed to the orientation of the fibrils with the axis of the fibre when a strain occurs. By using micro-mechanical equations, the Young's modulus of a flax fibre is estimated by taking into account the composition of the fibre and the evolution of the orientation of the fibrils during a tensile test. A good agreement is found between experimental and calculated results. The origin of the large spread observed in the mechanical characteristics is analysed here.

Analysis of the flax fibres tensile behaviour and analysis of the tensile stiffness increase

Potential materials for food packaging from nanoclay/natural fibres filled hybrid composites

The abundant availability and accessibility of plant fibres are the major reasons for an emerging new interest in sustainable technology. While focusing on the composite materials, the main points to be considered are environment friendliness and light weight, with high specific properties. This century has witnessed remarkable achievements in green technology in the field of materials science through the development of high-performance materials made from natural resources is increasing worldwide. Plant fibres are a kind of renewable resources, which have been renewed by nature and human ingenuity for thousands of years. The greatest challenge in working with plant fibre reinforced composites (PFRCs) is their large variation in properties and characteristics. A PFRCs properties are influenced by a number of variables, including the fibre type, environmental conditions, processing methods, and modification of the fibre. A detailed systematic review on these sustainable and renewable green materials is presented in this paper. The overall characteristics of plant fibres used in bio-composites, including source, type, structure, composition, as well as properties, will be reviewed. Finally, the review will conclude with recent developments and future trends of PFRCs as well as key issues that need to be addressed and resolved.

Plant fibre based bio-composites: Sustainable and renewable green materials

In this review, insight into the use of bio-based fibers as composite reinforcement has been addressed. Specifics on the varieties of natural fibers, and the resultant properties from their constituents and hierarchal structures are described. The methods used to enhance the interface of these fibers with a variety of polymer matrices are reviewed. In addition, the influence of textile operations on creating various fiber architectures with resulting reinforcing capabilities, along with the methods in which natural fiber reinforced composites can be processed, are addressed. Finally, discussion of the correlation between structure, processing, and final composite properties are provided.

Natural Fiber Reinforced Composites

https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/bitstream/1810/279810/1/Authors%20copy.pdf

Bodil Engberg Pallesen

Papers

Effects of chemical–physical pre-treatment processes on hemp fibres for reinforcement of composites and for textiles

The quality of combine-harvested fibre flax for industrials purposes depends on the degree of retting