Natural fibre composites are of interest for a wide range of semi-structural applications in the building, construction and automotive sector. For a number of these applications, the evaluation of performance degradation after impact is of some relevance. The present work focused on the influence of fibre volume fraction and fibre surface treatment on the residual load-bearing capability of hemp fibre-reinforced sheet moulding compound (H-SMC) after non-penetrating impacts. Post-impact flexural strength and stiffness of H-SMC decreased linearly with increasing impact energy. At higher impact energy levels, the residual flexural strength of H-SMC improved with increasing fibre volume fraction. However, for the same amount of absorbed energy, the residual strength or damage tolerance capability of glass fibre-reinforced sheet moulding compound was about twice that of H-SMC. Composites based on surface treated hemp fibres showed a slight improvement in residual flexural strength, particularly for systems based on hemp fibres treated with a combined alkaline and silane surface treatment. Surface treated systems showed improved levels of adhesion and increased levels of energy absorption through potential mechanisms such as debonding, pull-out or fibre fibrillation.

Harish K Patel

Ton Peijs

Advanced Composites Letters

ADVANCED COMPOSITES LETTERS 是一份同行评审、开放获取的期刊出版研究，专注于先进复合材料或结构的科学与工程领域。

Advanced Composites Letters is a peer-reviewed open access journal that publishes research focused on the science and engineering of advanced composites and structures.

《Advanced Composites Letters》是一份经过同行评审的开放获取期刊，专注于先进复合材料及其结构的科学与工程研究。

Post-impact damage tolerance of natural fibre-reinforced sheet moulding compound

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Journal Info

Category	Quartile
MATERIALS SCIENCE, COMPOSITES	3