Vibration and tribological behaviour of flax/wire mesh/hemp composite reinforced with WCFC particles

Carbon fiber composites (CFC) are broadly used in wind turbines, defense, aerospace, automobiles, and many fields due to their greater strength, lightweight, and impressive tribological and mechanical properties. At present, an increasing amount of waste carbon fiber composites (WCFC) or end-of-life (EoL) composites leads to a negative environmental impact. In this study, a cost-effective and eco-friendly way of recycling the WCFC was implemented and utilized as a value-added product for automobile applications. The hybrid hemp/flax epoxy composites were fabricated using the hand layup technique with the particulate WCFC and stainless steel (SS) wire mesh. The bidirectional woven flax and hemp fibers are surface treated using 5% concentrated NaOH so-lution for 2 h. To investigate the vibration, wear, and erosion properties, five different types of composites (W1 - W5) were fabricated, out of which three composites are with different orientations (30 degrees, 45 degrees, and 90 degrees) of stainless steel (SS) wire mesh stacked in-between hemp and flax fiber with WCFC particulate. The vibration test was conducted under two types of holding or boundary conditions (clamp-free & clamp-clamp). By using Pin on disc wear test machine, a dry contact wear test was conducted for various sliding velocities (1 to 3 m/s), sliding distance (1000 to 3000 m), and applied load (10 to 30 N). The composite W4 with 45 degrees oriented wire mesh enhances the natural frequency by 23%. The composite W3 with 30 degrees oriented wire mesh shows 46% better wear resistance and 62% erosion resistance. The scanning electron microscope analyzed the microstructure and elemental composition in the erosion and wear surface.

Automated summary

This study explores a cost-effective and eco-friendly method of recycling waste carbon fiber composites and utilizing them as value-added products in automobile applications. By fabricating hybrid hemp/flax epoxy composites with the particulate waste carbon fiber composites and stainless steel wire mesh, the researchers improve the vibration, wear, and erosion properties of the composites. The results show that the composite with a 45-degree oriented wire mesh enhances natural frequency by 23% and the composite with a 30-degree oriented wire mesh exhibits 46% better wear resistance and 62% erosion resistance.