TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact Characteristics and Repair Approaches of Distinct Bio-Based Matrix Composites: A Comparative Analysis
AU - Ravindran, Bharath
AU - Agathocleous, Timotheos
AU - Oswald-Tranta, Beata
AU - Fauster, Ewald
AU - Feuchter, Michael
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 by the authors.
PY - 2024/3/29
Y1 - 2024/3/29
N2 - Increasing global concerns regarding environmental issues have driven significant advancements in the development of bio-based fiber reinforced polymer composites. Despite extensive research on bio-composites, there remains a noticeable gap in studies specifically addressing the challenges of repairing bio-composites for circular economy adoption. Traditional repair techniques for impacted composites, such as patching or scarf methods, are not only time-consuming but also require highly skilled personnel. This paper aims to highlight cost-effective repair strategies for the restoration of damaged composites, featuring flax fiber as the primary reinforcement material and distinct matrix systems, namely bio-based epoxy and bio-based vitrimer matrix. Glass fiber was used as a secondary material to validate the bio-based vitrimer matrix. The damage caused specifically by low impact is detrimental to the structural integrity of the composites. Therefore, the impact resistance of the two composite materials is evaluated using instrumented drop tower tests at various energy levels, while thermography observations are employed to assess damage evolution. Two distinct repair approaches were studied: the resin infiltration repair method, employing bio-based epoxy, and the reconsolidation (self-healing) repair method, utilizing the bio-based vitrimer matrix. The efficiency of these repair methods was assessed through active thermography and compression after impact tests. The repair outcomes demonstrate successful restoration and the maintenance of ultimate strength at an efficiency of 90% for the re-infiltration repair method and 92% for the reconsolidation repair method.
AB - Increasing global concerns regarding environmental issues have driven significant advancements in the development of bio-based fiber reinforced polymer composites. Despite extensive research on bio-composites, there remains a noticeable gap in studies specifically addressing the challenges of repairing bio-composites for circular economy adoption. Traditional repair techniques for impacted composites, such as patching or scarf methods, are not only time-consuming but also require highly skilled personnel. This paper aims to highlight cost-effective repair strategies for the restoration of damaged composites, featuring flax fiber as the primary reinforcement material and distinct matrix systems, namely bio-based epoxy and bio-based vitrimer matrix. Glass fiber was used as a secondary material to validate the bio-based vitrimer matrix. The damage caused specifically by low impact is detrimental to the structural integrity of the composites. Therefore, the impact resistance of the two composite materials is evaluated using instrumented drop tower tests at various energy levels, while thermography observations are employed to assess damage evolution. Two distinct repair approaches were studied: the resin infiltration repair method, employing bio-based epoxy, and the reconsolidation (self-healing) repair method, utilizing the bio-based vitrimer matrix. The efficiency of these repair methods was assessed through active thermography and compression after impact tests. The repair outcomes demonstrate successful restoration and the maintenance of ultimate strength at an efficiency of 90% for the re-infiltration repair method and 92% for the reconsolidation repair method.
KW - bio-based polymers
KW - bio-composite
KW - compression after impact (CAI)
KW - resin reinfiltration
KW - self-healing
KW - vacuum assisted resin infusion (VARI)
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85191684879&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/jcs8040126
DO - 10.3390/jcs8040126
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85191684879
SN - 2504-477X
VL - 8.2024
JO - Journal of composites science
JF - Journal of composites science
IS - 4
M1 - 126
ER -