Vacuum infusion technique using natural fibers as reinforcement

GASTÓN FRANCUCHI; EXEQUIEL S. RODRIGUEZ; ANALÍA VÁZQUEZ

San Sebastián, España

Conferencia; V International Conference on Science and Technology of Composite Materials; 2009

Universidad del País Vasco

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1107304683 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:ES-TRAD; mso-fareast-language:ES;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family:"New York"; mso-hansi-font-family:"New York";} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:70.85pt 3.0cm 70.85pt 3.0cm; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> The main goal of this work is to understand how the main processing variables are affected when glass fibers are replaced by natural fibers in reinforced plastics.  A jute fabric was characterized in terms of its saturated and unsaturated permeability. It was found that fluid absorption and swelling are mechanisms present in natural fibers that reduce both permeabilities. Fluid absorption removes fluid from the main stream as it travels through the reinforcement, acting as a sink component and thus decreasing flow velocity during the unsaturated flow. Also, the saturation of the natural fibers cause swelling, reducing the porosity and increasing flow resistance during saturated flow