SOLUTION IMPREGNATION OF NATURAL FIBRES/ABS MATRIX COMPOSITES

The aim to improve recyclability properties, exploit renewable sources, and decrease the cost of materials leads the composite community to investigate the properties of natural fibre/thermoplastic matrix composite materials. Two different types of composite materials have been produced impregnating filaments of two natural reinforcements (broom and hemp fibres) with a thermoplastic ABS matrix. Consolidation of the laminates has been achieved by hot press moulding at two different moulding temperatures. Quasi-static tensile and bending tests have been carried out on specimens of all the materials produced. The results show that a maximum increase of mechanical properties with respect to the pure matrix is obtained for the composite with hemp fibres, whose mechanical properties were twice as high as the those of the unreinforced ABS. However, a poor fibre-matrix adhesion and the uneven fibre distribution throughout the matrix remained critical issues for these composites. As a result, extensive fibre pull-out was found at the fracture surface of all the coupons tested.