Dielectric, Thermal and Water Absorption Properties of Some EPDM/Flax Fiber Composites

This paper deals with the dielectric and sorption properties of some flax fiber-reinforced ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) composites containing different fiber loadings as well as their behavior after exposure to different doses of electron beam irradiation. Three relaxation processes were evinced, a weak relaxation beta at sub-T-g temperatures and two alpha-type relaxations above the T-g. The EPDM/flax composites exhibited higher values of dielectric constant, dielectric loss and conductivity as compared to a pristine EPDM sample. Using thermogravimetric analysis (TG) coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and mass spectrometry (MS) (TG/FTIR/MS system), the degradation products can be identified. The water uptake increased as the flax fiber level increased in composites. The water uptake tests of irradiated composites showed that the highest water content was obtained for a flax fiber level of 20 phr.

Automated summary

This study investigates the dielectric and sorption properties of flax fiber-reinforced ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) composites with different fiber loadings, as well as their behavior after exposure to electron beam irradiation. The results show that increasing levels of flax fiber in the composites lead to higher water uptake.