Specific features of flax fibres used to manufacture composite materials

• Published in: International journal of material forming Vol. 12; no. 6; pp. 1023 - 1052
• Main Authors: Baley, Christophe, Gomina, Moussa, Breard, Joel, Bourmaud, Alain, Drapier, Sylvain, Ferreira, Manuela, Le Duigou, Antoine, Liotier, Pierre Jacques, Ouagne, Pierre, Soulat, Damien, Davies, Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Springer Paris 01.11.2019; Springer Nature B.V; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: Biomedical materials; CAE) and Design; Composite materials; Computational Intelligence; Computer-Aided Engineering (CAD; Engineering; Engineering Sciences; Fiber orientation; Fiber-matrix adhesion; Fibers; Flax; Impregnation; Machines; Manufacturing; Materials; Materials Science; Mechanical Engineering; Mechanical properties; Porosity; Processes; Retting; Review; Surface properties; polymer; processing; Composite materials; flax fibre; biocomposite; Polymer; Flax fibre; Biocomposite; Processing
• ISSN: 1960-6206; 1960-6214
• DOI: 10.1007/s12289-018-1455-y

The use of composite materials reinforced by flax fibres has been increasing steadily over the last 20 years. These fibres show attractive mechanical properties but also some particularities (naturally limited length, presence of a lumen, fibres grouped in bundles in the plant, complex surface properties and composition). An analysis of the available literature indicates that the quality of the composite materials studied is not always optimal (high porosity, incomplete impregnation, heterogeneous microstructure, variable fibre orientation). This paper reviews published data on the specific nature of flax fibres with respect to manufacturing of biocomposites (defined here as polymers reinforced by natural fibres). All the important steps in the process which influence final properties are analyzed, including the plant development, retting, fibre extraction, fibre treatment, preform preparation, available manufacturing processes, the impregnation step, fibre cell wall changes during processing and fibre/matrix adhesion.