Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Flax Fibres as Potential Composite Reinforcement

Scutched and hackled long flax fibres varying in retting degree, namely green, under-retted and normally retted flax, and elementary fibres were tested for their mechanical and thermal properties. Tensile tests were performed on individual fibres and on bundles. The thermal stability is evaluated with thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) and determination of the mechanical properties after thermal exposure. For the investigated samples, no significant influence of the retting degree on tensile strength can be determined. Exposure to different temperatures results in a weight decrease and affects the mechanical properties of the fibres.