Development of flax/carbon fibre hybrid composites for enhanced properties

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers Vol. 96; no. 1; pp. 1 - 8
• Main Authors: Dhakal, H.N., Zhang, Z.Y., Guthrie, R., MacMullen, J., Bennett, N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: absorption; Applied sciences; carbon; Carbon - chemistry; carbon fibers; Cellulose - chemistry; Cellulosic fibres; Composites; compression molding; Compression moulding; epoxides; Exact sciences and technology; Flax; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Hot Temperature; Hybrid composites; hybridization; Materials Testing; Mechanical properties; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Technology of polymers; Tensile Strength; thermal stability; Water - chemistry; Hybrid composites; Mechanical properties; Cellulosic fibres; Compression moulding; Fiber reinforced material; Epoxy resin; Experimental study; Hybrid composite; Composite material; Thermal stability; Compression molding; Flax fiber; Water absorption; Kinetics; Manufacturing; Fracture mode; Carbon fiber
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2013.03.074

•A cost effective process of hybridisation is developed.•Water absorption reduced, mechanical properties were improved due to hybridisation.•Hybridised flax/carbon composites can be used as load bearing materials. Uni-directional (UD) and cross-ply (CP) cellulosic flax fibre epoxy composites were produced by hybridising UD carbon fibre prepreg onto flax system. A compression moulding technique was used to produce both flax and carbon/flax hybridised laminates. The effect of carbon fibre hybridisation on the water absorption behaviour, thermal and mechanical properties of both UD and CP flax specimens were investigated by means of water absorption, tensile, thermogravemetric analysis and flexural testing. The results showed that water absorption behaviour of hybrid samples are markedly improved compared to those without hybridisation. Similarly, the thermal stability, tensile and flexural properties of the hybrid composites are significantly improved in comparison with UD and CP flax composites without hybridisation. The experimental results suggest that cellulosic flax fibre reinforcement contributed to improve the toughness properties by promoting crack propagation whereas the carbon fibre contributed in improving thermal stability, water absorption behaviour and the overall strength and the stiffness of the hybrid composites.