Effect of fabric architecture on the shear and impact properties of natural fibre reinforced composites

Abstract

Thermoplastic natural fiber reinforced composites are particularly attractive and ideal materials for weight critical applications, but the high melt-viscosity of the matrix hinders their full prospective utilisation. Commingled fabrics have evolved as an alternative solution to overcome the viscosity constrain and reduce the manufacturing cost by means of faster lay-up. A comparative performance evaluation was conducted in this research work on natural fibre-reinforced (jute, hemp and flax) laminates fabricated using woven, woven commingled and knitted commingled fabric architectures along with polypropylene matrix by compression moulding method. The damage behaviour of the fabricated laminates was assessed in terms of short-beam shear (SBS), drop weight impact and compression after impact (CAI) strength. The result shows that knitted commingled laminates exhibited higher SBS strength (up to 29% and 20%) and compression after impact strength (up to 37.9% and 25.3%) compared to the woven and woven commingled laminates. Nonetheless, the woven laminates ensure higher impact resistance owing to the interlacement of fibres compared to that of knitted and woven commingled laminates.