Abstract
Flax fiber has high sensitivity to moisture, and moisture uptake leads to the decrease of mechanical properties and distortion in shape. This paper attempts to graft flax fabric with nano-clay, with assistance from a silane-coupling agent, in order to improve hygrothermal resistance. The nano-clay grafted flax fabric reinforced epoxy (FFRP) composite produced through vacuum assisted resin infusion (VARI) process were subjected to 80% RH chamber for 12 weeks at 20, 40 and 70 °C, respectively. Moisture uptake, dimensional stability, and tensile properties was studied as a function of humidity exposure. Through SEM and FTIR, the effects of hygrothermal exposure was elucidated. In comparison to control FFRP plates, nano-clay grafting decreases saturation moisture uptake and the coefficient of diffusion of FFRP by 38.4% and 13.2%, respectively. After exposure for six weeks, the retention rate of the tensile modulus of the nano-clay grafted flax fiber based FFRP increased by 33.8% compared with that of the control ones. Nano-clay grafting also reduces the linear moisture expansion coefficient of FFRPs by 8.4% in a radial direction and 10.9% in a weft direction.
Highlights
Flax fiber is a natural fiber that is biodegradable, renewable and environment-friendly compared to traditional carbon fiber and glass fiber
Flax fiber possesses relatively higher tensile strength compare to other natural fibers, which are considered as a high performance natural fiber
Due to to its hydrophobicity, the presence of nano-clay enhances the barrier properties of the materials by its hydrophobicity, the presence of nano‐clay enhances the barrier properties of the materials by creating tortuous pathways for water molecules to diffuse into flax fiber, which leads to a reduction creating tortuous pathways for water molecules to diffuse into flax fiber, which leads to a reduction in absorbed water and the coefficient of diffusion
Summary
Flax fiber is a natural fiber that is biodegradable, renewable and environment-friendly compared to traditional carbon fiber and glass fiber. Flax fiber possesses relatively higher tensile strength compare to other natural fibers, which are considered as a high performance natural fiber. Its water resistance properties are not very good compared to thermoplastic polymer, epoxy resin has been widely used as a resin matrix for polymeric composites. Epoxy resin has good wettability with flax fiber, which provides good interface properties of flax fiber reinforced epoxy polymer (FFRP) composites. FFRPs are widely used in decorative materials, automobiles and other fields due to their high specific modulus. Due to the high hydrophilicity of flax fibers, their poor durability limits the development of FFRPs
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