Effects of Different Relative Humidities on Flax Fibers prior to Manufacturing Their Composites Based on the Shear Response

MOUDOOD, ABDUL; ISLAM, MAINUL; RAHMAN, ANISUR; MOHAMMAD YEAKUB ALI,; ÖCHSNER, ANDREAS; FRANCUCCI, GASTON

Advances in Materials Science and Engineering

Hindawi

Lugar: London; Año: 2020 vol. 2020 p. 1 - 7

1687-8434

&e moisture absorption behavior of flax fiber-reinforced epoxy composites is deliberated to be a serious issue. &is propertyrestricts their usage as outdoor engineering structures. &erefore, this study provides an investigation of moisture in flax fibers onthe performance of the flax/epoxy composite materials based on their shear responses. &e ±45° aligned flax fibers exposed todifferent relative humidities (RH) and the vacuum infusion process was used to manufacture the composite specimens. &eoptimum shear strength (40.25 ± 0.75 MPa) was found for the composites manufactured with 35% RH-conditioned flax fibers, butthe shear modulus was reduced consistently with increasing RH values. Although shear strength was increased because of fiberswelling with increased moisture absorption rate until 35% RH environments with good microstructures, nonetheless, strengthand modulus both started to decrease after this range. A very poor microstructure has been affirmed by the SEM images of thecomposite samples conditioned at 90% RH environments.