Mechanical Properties Evaluation of a Recycled Flax Fibre Reinforced Vinyl ester

EXEQUIEL S. RODRIGUEZ; VARA A. ALVAREZ; JUAN MORÁN; SANTIAGO MORENO; ROBERTO PETRUCCI; JOSÉ KENNY; ANALÍA VÁZQUEZ

JOURNAL OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS

Sage Publications

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2006 vol. 40 p. 245 - 256

0021-9983

Flax fibre/vinyl ester composite were milled and mixed with virgin matrices to produce recycled composites. The effect of this powder incorporation on the mechanical properties of a thermosetting matrix (vinylester) and a thermoplastic matrix (polypropylene) was studied. In the case of thermosetting matrix, flexural and tensile strength decreased with the adittion of powder.  For  filler contents highers than 50% the strength reaches a constant value.  Flexural and Young’s modulus remained constant for different powder contents. In the case of thermoplastic matrix, strength and modulus decreased when powder replaced fibers.  Both, fibers and powder act as reinforcement because modulus increased.  Impact properties were improved with the addition of powder and fibers in comparisson with the pure matrix