Flax Fabric Testing

Biaxial tests were carried out to study the tensile behavior of the flax fabric. The results showing the biaxial behaviour of the fabric in the weft direction are presented for the plain weave fabric in Figure 5.11 for different values of the parameter kt. The parameter kt = e e is defined as the ratio between the strain in the weft direction (e ) over... 

A thermosetting resin containing approximately 40% of cardanol by weight has been synthesized by adding an epoxy monomer and an acid-based catalyst to a resole compound (Maffezzoli et al., 2004). This last was manufactured through a polycondensation reaction between cardanol and formaldehyde in the presence of a basic catalyst. The formulation characterized by adequate properties and curing temperatures was reinforced with natural fibers (i.e. short ramie, flax, hemp fibers and a jute fabric) to obtain samples which were then tested both in tensile and in flexural configurations. 

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