Moisture Absorption Effects on the Mechanical Properties of Sandwich Biocomposites with Cork Core and Flax/PLA Face Sheets
The aim of this study was to evaluate the moisture absorption behaviour and its influence on the mechanical properties of newly developed sandwich biocomposites with flax fibre-reinforced poly-lactic acid (PLA) face sheets and soft cork as the core material. Three different types of sandwich biocomp...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/23/7295 |
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| author | Hom Nath Dhakal Chulin Jiang Moumita Sit Zhongyi Zhang Moussa Khalfallah Erwan Grossmann |
| author_facet | Hom Nath Dhakal Chulin Jiang Moumita Sit Zhongyi Zhang Moussa Khalfallah Erwan Grossmann |
| author_sort | Hom Nath Dhakal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of this study was to evaluate the moisture absorption behaviour and its influence on the mechanical properties of newly developed sandwich biocomposites with flax fibre-reinforced poly-lactic acid (PLA) face sheets and soft cork as the core material. Three different types of sandwich biocomposite laminates comprised of different layup configurations, namely, non-woven flax/PLA (Sample A), non-woven flax/PLA and cork as core (Sample B) and non-woven flax/paper backing/PLA, cork as core (Sample C), were fabricated. In order to evaluate the influence of moisture ingress on the mechanical properties, the biocomposites were immersed in seawater for a period of 1200 h. The biocomposites (both dry and water immersed) were then subjected to tensile, flexural and low-velocity falling weight impact tests. It was observed from the experimental results that the moisture uptake significantly influenced the mechanical properties of the biocomposites. The presence of the cork and paper in sample C made it more susceptible to water absorption, reaching a value of 34.33%. The presence of cork in the core also has a considerable effect on the mechanical, as well as energy dissipation, behaviours. The results of sample A exhibited improved mechanical performance in both dry and wet conditions compared to samples B and C. Sample A exhibits 32.6% more tensile strength and 81.4% more flexural strength in dry conditions than that in sample C. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray micro-CT images revealed that the failure modes observed are a combination of matrix cracking, core crushing and face core debonding. The results from this study suggest that flax/PLA sandwich biocomposites can be used in various lightweight applications with improved environmental benefits. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:47:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1ba3e725f6b646a99de4009fe05b4458 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:47:05Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-1ba3e725f6b646a99de4009fe05b44582023-11-23T02:50:20ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492021-12-012623729510.3390/molecules26237295Moisture Absorption Effects on the Mechanical Properties of Sandwich Biocomposites with Cork Core and Flax/PLA Face SheetsHom Nath Dhakal0Chulin Jiang1Moumita Sit2Zhongyi Zhang3Moussa Khalfallah4Erwan Grossmann5Advanced Polymers and Composites (APC) Research Group, School of Mechanical and Design Engineering, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 3DJ, UKAdvanced Polymers and Composites (APC) Research Group, School of Mechanical and Design Engineering, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 3DJ, UKAdvanced Polymers and Composites (APC) Research Group, School of Mechanical and Design Engineering, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 3DJ, UKAdvanced Polymers and Composites (APC) Research Group, School of Mechanical and Design Engineering, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 3DJ, UKKairos, 1 Rue des Senneurs, ZI du Moros, 29900 Concarneau, FranceKairos, 1 Rue des Senneurs, ZI du Moros, 29900 Concarneau, FranceThe aim of this study was to evaluate the moisture absorption behaviour and its influence on the mechanical properties of newly developed sandwich biocomposites with flax fibre-reinforced poly-lactic acid (PLA) face sheets and soft cork as the core material. Three different types of sandwich biocomposite laminates comprised of different layup configurations, namely, non-woven flax/PLA (Sample A), non-woven flax/PLA and cork as core (Sample B) and non-woven flax/paper backing/PLA, cork as core (Sample C), were fabricated. In order to evaluate the influence of moisture ingress on the mechanical properties, the biocomposites were immersed in seawater for a period of 1200 h. The biocomposites (both dry and water immersed) were then subjected to tensile, flexural and low-velocity falling weight impact tests. It was observed from the experimental results that the moisture uptake significantly influenced the mechanical properties of the biocomposites. The presence of the cork and paper in sample C made it more susceptible to water absorption, reaching a value of 34.33%. The presence of cork in the core also has a considerable effect on the mechanical, as well as energy dissipation, behaviours. The results of sample A exhibited improved mechanical performance in both dry and wet conditions compared to samples B and C. Sample A exhibits 32.6% more tensile strength and 81.4% more flexural strength in dry conditions than that in sample C. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray micro-CT images revealed that the failure modes observed are a combination of matrix cracking, core crushing and face core debonding. The results from this study suggest that flax/PLA sandwich biocomposites can be used in various lightweight applications with improved environmental benefits.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/23/7295biocompositesflax fibresmechanical propertiesimpact damagedelamination |
| spellingShingle | Hom Nath Dhakal Chulin Jiang Moumita Sit Zhongyi Zhang Moussa Khalfallah Erwan Grossmann Moisture Absorption Effects on the Mechanical Properties of Sandwich Biocomposites with Cork Core and Flax/PLA Face Sheets Molecules biocomposites flax fibres mechanical properties impact damage delamination |
| title | Moisture Absorption Effects on the Mechanical Properties of Sandwich Biocomposites with Cork Core and Flax/PLA Face Sheets |
| title_full | Moisture Absorption Effects on the Mechanical Properties of Sandwich Biocomposites with Cork Core and Flax/PLA Face Sheets |
| title_fullStr | Moisture Absorption Effects on the Mechanical Properties of Sandwich Biocomposites with Cork Core and Flax/PLA Face Sheets |
| title_full_unstemmed | Moisture Absorption Effects on the Mechanical Properties of Sandwich Biocomposites with Cork Core and Flax/PLA Face Sheets |
| title_short | Moisture Absorption Effects on the Mechanical Properties of Sandwich Biocomposites with Cork Core and Flax/PLA Face Sheets |
| title_sort | moisture absorption effects on the mechanical properties of sandwich biocomposites with cork core and flax pla face sheets |
| topic | biocomposites flax fibres mechanical properties impact damage delamination |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/23/7295 |
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