Improving the interfacial properties between flax fibres and PLLA by a water fibre treatment and drying cycle

This paper describes an analysis of the parameters that influence the adherence properties between flax fibres and PLLA. Microdroplet debonding tests have been used, together with Atomic Force and Scanning Electron Microscopy. The apparent interfacial shear strength of flax/PLLA is significantly higher than that of glass/PP and similar to that of glass/unsaturated polyester. Comparison of results for glass fibres and flax with and without release agent indicate a large contribution of thermal residual stresses to interface properties. The multi-layer nature of vegetal fibres affects debonding mechanisms and partial peeling of the fibre is noted. The cohesion of the fibre cell-wall must therefore also be considered. A water treatment of flax fibres (72 h at 23 degrees C) is shown to result in a small drop in tensile properties but a significant increase in interfacial shear strength and friction stress. Drying for 14 h at 105 degrees C reduces fibre Young's modulus and failure strength and also reduces fibre/matrix adhesion by 20%. More extensive fibre peeling is observed after drying, indicating that drying affects fibre wall cohesion. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.