Hygrothermal Durability and Damage Evolution of Bio-Epoxy-Based Composites Reinforced with Different Fibre Types
Article
| Article Title | Hygrothermal Durability and Damage Evolution of Bio-Epoxy-Based Composites Reinforced with Different Fibre Types |
|---|---|
| ERA Journal ID | 201391 |
| Article Category | Article |
| Authors | Iftikhar, Abdullah, Manalo, Allan, Senselova, Zaneta, Ferdous, Wahid, Peerzada, Mazhar, Seligmann, Hannah, Nguyen, Kate and Benmokrane, Brahim |
| Journal Title | Polymers |
| Journal Citation | 18 (1) |
| Article Number | 58 |
| Number of Pages | 20 |
| Year | 2026 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG |
| Place of Publication | Switzerland |
| ISSN | 2073-4360 |
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18010058 |
| Web Address (URL) | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/1/58 |
| Abstract | basalt, and flax fibres. Fibre yarns and bio-composites were exposed for 3000 h at 60 °C and 98% relative humidity. The tensile strength reduction in the fibres and the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) reduction in the composites were assessed after ageing. Chemical deterioration was evaluated using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS); morphological changes in fibres and composites fracture surfaces were examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results indicated that the durability was significantly influenced by fibre types. Tensile strength reduction was higher in carbon, glass and basalt compared to flax yarns because of chemical degradation of the sizing layer in synthetic fibres, while only physical damage was observed in flax. The IFSS reduction was highest in flax composites (10%), and lowest in carbon (4%). EDS indicated the hydrolysis and erosion of fibre sizing, with reduced silica content in glass and basalt fibres. SEM revealed matrix-dominated failure in carbon/bio-epoxy, interfacial debonding in glass and basalt composites, fibre slip and pull-out in flax/bio-epoxy. Overall, the results highlighted damage propagation pathways and demonstrated that bio-epoxy composites exhibited reasonable performance under hygrothermal ageing, supporting their potential as a sustainable alternative in durability-critical applications. |
| Keywords | bio-based polymers; hygrothermal durability; material degradation; bio-composites; fracture behaviour; environmental ageing |
| Contains Sensitive Content | Does not contain sensitive content |
| ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 401602. Composite and hybrid materials |
| Byline Affiliations | Centre for Future Materials |
| Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) | |
| Institute for Space, Defence and Advanced Technologies |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/100y2v/hygrothermal-durability-and-damage-evolution-of-bio-epoxy-based-composites-reinforced-with-different-fibre-types
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