Abstract
Moisture accumulation and life span in a hydric setting are major concerns for natural fibers used for the reinforcement of bio-based composites. This article discusses the effect of water aging on the mechanical properties of poly-lactic acid composites reinforced with flax fibers produced by 3D printing. Water absorption of composites is measured and it was observed that the bio-based composite seems to be Fick’s model with a percentage of absorption at saturation equal to 1.2%. To determine the effect of water absorption on static and vibration mechanical properties, various immersion periods are chosen. Water aging obviously influences the stiffness and tensile failure; so, a decline in the Young’s modulus from 2.2 to 1.7 GPa and in strength from 36 to 30.5 MPa is seen. Nevertheless, the damping factor shows an increase by about 16% as a function of the immersion period. These results could be explained by the plasticizing effect of water on bio-based composites, stimulated by moisture absorption.
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