Investigation of Novel Flax Fiber/Epoxy Composites with Increased Biobased Content
Currently, biobased epoxy resins derived from plant oils and natural fibers are available on the market and are a promising substitute for fossil-based products. The purpose of this work is to investigate novel lightweight thermoset fiber-reinforced composites with extremely high biobased content. P...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/19/4030 |
| _version_ | 1797575335971127296 |
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| author | Bianca Dal Pont Vito Gigante Luca Panariello Ilaria Canesi Laura Aliotta Andrea Lazzeri |
| author_facet | Bianca Dal Pont Vito Gigante Luca Panariello Ilaria Canesi Laura Aliotta Andrea Lazzeri |
| author_sort | Bianca Dal Pont |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Currently, biobased epoxy resins derived from plant oils and natural fibers are available on the market and are a promising substitute for fossil-based products. The purpose of this work is to investigate novel lightweight thermoset fiber-reinforced composites with extremely high biobased content. Paying attention to the biobased content, following a cascade pathway, many trials were carried out with different types of resins and hardeners to select the best ones. The most promising formulations were then used to produce flax fiber reinforced composites by vacuum bagging process. The main biocomposite properties such as tensile, bending, and impact properties as well as the individuation of their glass transition temperatures (by DSC) were assessed. Three biocomposite systems were investigated with biobased content ranging from 60 to 91%, obtaining an elastic modulus that varied from 2.7 to 6.3 GPa, a flexural strength from 23 to 108.5 MPa, and Charpy impact strength from 11.9 to 12.2 kJ/m<sup>2</sup>. The properties reached by the new biocomposites are very encouraging; in fact, their stiffness vs. lightweight (calculated by the <i>E/ρ</i><sup>3</sup> ratio) is comparable to some typical epoxy–glass composites. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:37:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c438adb0c947403c9ecac7a46e6cfe37 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:37:11Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-c438adb0c947403c9ecac7a46e6cfe372023-11-19T14:57:54ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602023-10-011519403010.3390/polym15194030Investigation of Novel Flax Fiber/Epoxy Composites with Increased Biobased ContentBianca Dal Pont0Vito Gigante1Luca Panariello2Ilaria Canesi3Laura Aliotta4Andrea Lazzeri5Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, Via Diotisalvi, 2, 56122 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, Via Diotisalvi, 2, 56122 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, Via Diotisalvi, 2, 56122 Pisa, ItalyPlanet Bioplastics, Via San Giovanni Bosco 23, 56127 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, Via Diotisalvi, 2, 56122 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, Via Diotisalvi, 2, 56122 Pisa, ItalyCurrently, biobased epoxy resins derived from plant oils and natural fibers are available on the market and are a promising substitute for fossil-based products. The purpose of this work is to investigate novel lightweight thermoset fiber-reinforced composites with extremely high biobased content. Paying attention to the biobased content, following a cascade pathway, many trials were carried out with different types of resins and hardeners to select the best ones. The most promising formulations were then used to produce flax fiber reinforced composites by vacuum bagging process. The main biocomposite properties such as tensile, bending, and impact properties as well as the individuation of their glass transition temperatures (by DSC) were assessed. Three biocomposite systems were investigated with biobased content ranging from 60 to 91%, obtaining an elastic modulus that varied from 2.7 to 6.3 GPa, a flexural strength from 23 to 108.5 MPa, and Charpy impact strength from 11.9 to 12.2 kJ/m<sup>2</sup>. The properties reached by the new biocomposites are very encouraging; in fact, their stiffness vs. lightweight (calculated by the <i>E/ρ</i><sup>3</sup> ratio) is comparable to some typical epoxy–glass composites.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/19/4030fibersmechanical propertiesthermosets |
| spellingShingle | Bianca Dal Pont Vito Gigante Luca Panariello Ilaria Canesi Laura Aliotta Andrea Lazzeri Investigation of Novel Flax Fiber/Epoxy Composites with Increased Biobased Content Polymers fibers mechanical properties thermosets |
| title | Investigation of Novel Flax Fiber/Epoxy Composites with Increased Biobased Content |
| title_full | Investigation of Novel Flax Fiber/Epoxy Composites with Increased Biobased Content |
| title_fullStr | Investigation of Novel Flax Fiber/Epoxy Composites with Increased Biobased Content |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigation of Novel Flax Fiber/Epoxy Composites with Increased Biobased Content |
| title_short | Investigation of Novel Flax Fiber/Epoxy Composites with Increased Biobased Content |
| title_sort | investigation of novel flax fiber epoxy composites with increased biobased content |
| topic | fibers mechanical properties thermosets |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/19/4030 |
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