Influence of processing and matrix parameters on the manufacturing of unidirectional flax/polypropylene composites

• Published in: SN applied sciences Vol. 5; no. 12; pp. 314 - 14
• Main Authors: Mattlet, Agnès, Sicot, Olivier, Van Schoors, Laetitia, Aivazzadeh, Shahram
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01-12-2023; Springer Nature B.V; Springer Verlag; Springer
• Subjects: Applied and Technical Physics; Biocomposites; Chemical Sciences; Chemistry/Food Science; Compression moulding; Cooling; Earth Sciences; Engineering; Engineering Sciences; Environment; Flax; Manufacturing; Materials Science; Mechanical properties; Morphology; Natural fibers; Polymers; Polypropylene; Recycling; Research Article; Research methodology; Shear strength; Sustainable materials; Temperature; Tensile strength; Thermoplastic composites; Unidirectional composites; Mechanical properties; Compression moulding; Natural fibers; Biocomposites; Biocomposites Natural fibers Mechanical properties Compression moulding
• ISSN: 2523-3963; 2523-3971
• DOI: 10.1007/s42452-023-05457-x

The manufacturing by thermocompression of flax fiber composites requires a good understanding of process parameters. This work focuses on the influence of key parameters in the manufacture of quality unidirectional flax/polypropylene composites by thermocompression. To this effect, a number of matrix and process parameters have been studied and ranked according to their influence on composite morphology and tensile properties. Among tested parameters, process time and temperature tend to decrease tensile strength as they increased from 3 to 11 min and from 180 to 200 °C. As a result, decrease of cooling speed from 15 to 5 °C min
−1
also decreased tensile strength. Temperature of 180 °C also led to composites with no dispersion of fibers. Using a compatibilized agent, maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP), also increased tensile strength of composites. Increasing its percentage from 3 to 5% increased tensile properties in the 90° direction. Pressure had no significant effect on mechanical properties, though lower pressures increase fiber dispersion.
Article Highlights
Consolidation time and temperature have major effect on tensile strength and fiber dispersion in the matrix.
Process temperature influences flax fiber components degradation from 190 °C.
Pressure, in the tested range, does not influence mechanical properties but has an effect on fiber dispersion.