Performance of Hybrid Composites Fabricated by Flax/Hemp Fibers Using Wire Mesh Plain Weaving Techniques

Abstract

Laminate composites have restricted practical application as a result of the significant problem of delamination. Researchers are always focusing on enhancing the strength and hardness of the layers, often known as interlaminar characteristics. This study investigates the feasibility of hybrid composites fabricated through the utilization of plain weaving techniques. Four different hybrid composites were created by weaving flax and hemp threads with stainless steel wire mesh, infusing them with epoxy resin, and reinforcing them with hand-laid hemp and flax fibers. The composites were produced using different combinations of hemp and flax yarns, resulting in the following variations: hemp fiber with weaving on wire mesh using hemp yarn 1 (H1), hemp fiber with alternative weaving on wire mesh using hemp yarn and flax yarn 2 (H2), flax fiber with weaving on wire mesh using flax yarn 1 (F1), and flax fiber with alternative weaving on wire mesh using flax yarn and hemp yarn (F2). The composites underwent ASTM standard assessments to determine their hardness, impact resistance, flexural properties, and tensile strength. The tensile test indicates that the maximum values were obtained in F2 (42.38 MPa) and H2 (38.61 MPa). The tensile strength of F2 is 8.89% higher than that of H2. H2 has a flexural strength of 85.12 MPa, which is 8.12% greater than H1. Similarly, F2 exhibits a 9.05% increase in strength compared to F1. The impact strength of the composite material used in F2 is 9.95 J, which is higher than the impact strength of other composites such as F1, H1, and H2. Material H2 has a significant 15.13% enhancement in impact resistance when compared to the other composites. The maximum hardness of composite F2 is 31.8VHN, which exceeds the average hardness of other composites by 10.29%. Integrating weaving techniques into wire mesh entails utilizing flax fiber and hemp fibers, which have a substantial impact on its mechanical properties, leading to enhanced flexibility, resistance to impact, ability to be stretched, and tensile strength.