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Deformation and fracture behaviour of flax fibre reinforced thermosetting polymer matrix composites.

Hughes, M; Carpenter, J; Hill, Callum A S

Authors

M Hughes

J Carpenter

Callum A S Hill



Abstract

The mechanical properties of unidirectional flax fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester resin composites were studied with particular emphasis on their tensile deformation behaviour. These materials displayed characteristic non-linear behaviour when loaded parallel to the axis of the fibre, with a distinct knee preceding a drop in stiffness. Further deformation resulted in strain hardening behaviour. Load cycling and acoustic emissions analysis were used to investigate the nature of the knee and it was found that this corresponded with yielding behaviour in the composite. A well-defined yield point could be identified, which in composites of around 60% fibre volume fraction, occurred at a strain of some 0.12% and a tensile stress of 32 MPa. Varying the interfacial properties, through chemical modification of the fibre prior to lamination, was found to have a marked effect upon the onset of yielding and the yield point itself, as well as the deformation and fracture behaviour of the laminate. It is considered that this behaviour is intimately linked to the straining behaviour of the fibre as well as the fibre-matrix interaction and hypotheses to explain the observed behaviour are presented.

Citation

Hughes, M., Carpenter, J., & Hill, C. A. S. (2007). Deformation and fracture behaviour of flax fibre reinforced thermosetting polymer matrix composites. Journal of Materials Science, 42, 2499-2511. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-006-1027-2

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Apr 1, 2007
Deposit Date Jan 29, 2008
Print ISSN 0022-2461
Electronic ISSN 1573-4803
Publisher BMC
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 42
Pages 2499-2511
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-006-1027-2
Keywords Mechanical deformation; Fexural fracture; Polyester resin composite; Flax fibre reinforcement;
Public URL http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/1906
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10853-006-1027-2



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