Static and Impact Properties of Flax-Reinforced Polymers Prepared with Conventional Epoxy and Sustainable Resins

The study assessed the tensile, flexural, and impact properties of composite materials reinforced with flax fibers, employing three distinct resin types. The composite laminates were fabricated using three commercial resins: a conventional epoxy resin, an epoxy resin with a 31% weight concentration...

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Main Authors: Raffaele Ciardiello, Alessandro Benelli, Davide Salvatore Paolino
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-01-01
Series:Polymers
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/16/2/190
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author Raffaele Ciardiello
Alessandro Benelli
Davide Salvatore Paolino
author_facet Raffaele Ciardiello
Alessandro Benelli
Davide Salvatore Paolino
author_sort Raffaele Ciardiello
collection DOAJ
description The study assessed the tensile, flexural, and impact properties of composite materials reinforced with flax fibers, employing three distinct resin types. The composite laminates were fabricated using three commercial resins: a conventional epoxy resin, an epoxy resin with a 31% weight concentration of bio-renewable content, and a recyclable methyl methacrylate infusion resin. This aims to assess if there exists a commercially available alternative to the traditional epoxy resin that can reduce the overall carbon footprint of composite materials. To investigate the influence of humidity on the mechanical behavior of the flax layers, a drying treatment was applied to the fibers before the infusion process. Micro-computed tomography analysis revealed that heat treatment resulted in a reduction of porosity, although it did not affect the mechanical response of the composite laminates. Moreover, laminates produced with non-recyclable and sustainable resins exhibited no significant change in tensile and flexural modulus. In contrast, those produced with recyclable resin demonstrated a slight reduction in the strengths of the composite laminates. Conversely, out-of-plane impact tests and repeated impact tests indicated that composites prepared with recyclable and bio-epoxy resin formulations present superior damage resistance to repeated impact compared to traditional epoxy resin.
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spelling doaj.art-d9ac7dbb2d154cf4ba6a65671d464a222024-01-26T18:13:04ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602024-01-0116219010.3390/polym16020190Static and Impact Properties of Flax-Reinforced Polymers Prepared with Conventional Epoxy and Sustainable ResinsRaffaele Ciardiello0Alessandro Benelli1Davide Salvatore Paolino2Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Turin, ItalyInter-Departmental Multi-Disciplinary Research Centre J-TECH @PoliTO, 10129 Turin, ItalyDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Turin, ItalyThe study assessed the tensile, flexural, and impact properties of composite materials reinforced with flax fibers, employing three distinct resin types. The composite laminates were fabricated using three commercial resins: a conventional epoxy resin, an epoxy resin with a 31% weight concentration of bio-renewable content, and a recyclable methyl methacrylate infusion resin. This aims to assess if there exists a commercially available alternative to the traditional epoxy resin that can reduce the overall carbon footprint of composite materials. To investigate the influence of humidity on the mechanical behavior of the flax layers, a drying treatment was applied to the fibers before the infusion process. Micro-computed tomography analysis revealed that heat treatment resulted in a reduction of porosity, although it did not affect the mechanical response of the composite laminates. Moreover, laminates produced with non-recyclable and sustainable resins exhibited no significant change in tensile and flexural modulus. In contrast, those produced with recyclable resin demonstrated a slight reduction in the strengths of the composite laminates. Conversely, out-of-plane impact tests and repeated impact tests indicated that composites prepared with recyclable and bio-epoxy resin formulations present superior damage resistance to repeated impact compared to traditional epoxy resin.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/16/2/190bio-based resinrecyclable resincomposite materialsmoisturemechanical propertiesimpacts
spellingShingle Raffaele Ciardiello
Alessandro Benelli
Davide Salvatore Paolino
Static and Impact Properties of Flax-Reinforced Polymers Prepared with Conventional Epoxy and Sustainable Resins
Polymers
bio-based resin
recyclable resin
composite materials
moisture
mechanical properties
impacts
title Static and Impact Properties of Flax-Reinforced Polymers Prepared with Conventional Epoxy and Sustainable Resins
title_full Static and Impact Properties of Flax-Reinforced Polymers Prepared with Conventional Epoxy and Sustainable Resins
title_fullStr Static and Impact Properties of Flax-Reinforced Polymers Prepared with Conventional Epoxy and Sustainable Resins
title_full_unstemmed Static and Impact Properties of Flax-Reinforced Polymers Prepared with Conventional Epoxy and Sustainable Resins
title_short Static and Impact Properties of Flax-Reinforced Polymers Prepared with Conventional Epoxy and Sustainable Resins
title_sort static and impact properties of flax reinforced polymers prepared with conventional epoxy and sustainable resins
topic bio-based resin
recyclable resin
composite materials
moisture
mechanical properties
impacts
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/16/2/190
work_keys_str_mv AT raffaeleciardiello staticandimpactpropertiesofflaxreinforcedpolymerspreparedwithconventionalepoxyandsustainableresins
AT alessandrobenelli staticandimpactpropertiesofflaxreinforcedpolymerspreparedwithconventionalepoxyandsustainableresins
AT davidesalvatorepaolino staticandimpactpropertiesofflaxreinforcedpolymerspreparedwithconventionalepoxyandsustainableresins