Mechanical and damping performances of flax fibre composites – A review

Research into and devolvement of plant fibre composites has increased consistently over the last decade, for obtaining a sustainable alternative to the manmade synthetic fibre composites and due to growing concerns for the environment. Plant fibres (e.g., flax) are natural, abundant, sustainable, renewable, environment-friendly, lightweight, and cheaper than conventional synthetic fibres (e.g., glass). The applications of plant fibre based composite materials are becoming widely prevalent not only in load-bearing structures (e.g., slabs, hand railing, parquet flooring, and window frame sections) but also to reduce audible noise and vibration in weight-critical transportations (e.g., automobile, aircraft, and yacht), and sports and leisure (e.g., rackets, bicycle frames, and skis). Much effort has been made to enhance the mechanical performance of the composites, while some studies are made to improve the vibration damping performance. This review paper aims to provide an overview of the various underlying factors that influence the mechanical and damping properties of the composites. The review then concludes with suggestions for further research in the future, based on the findings of this study.