Adhesion characteristics of plasma-treated flax fabrics and elastoplastic properties of their biocomposites

ABSTRACT

Recently, there has been growing interest in replacing synthetic fibers with natural fibers in polymer composites due to several advantages of natural fibers over synthetic ones, such as low cost, low density, sustainability, and biodegradability. However, a significant drawback of natural fibers is their high capillary water absorption, worsened by waxes and atmospheric pollutants, resulting in weak adhesion with polymer matrices. Surface treatments, including plasma treatments, have shown promise in improving this interfacial bonding. In this study, woven flax fabrics (FFs) were treated with two plasma techniques: atmospheric pressure plasma torch (APPT) and low-pressure plasma (LPP). The plasma effects on the fibers’ surface, wettability, and surface energy were assessed through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and contact angle measurements, respectively. Subsequently, the treated fibers were utilized to fabricate biopolymer composites using polyamide1 (PA11), green low-density polyethylene (GPE), and polybutylene succinate (PBS) as matrices. The adhesion strength and elastoplastic behavior of the biocomposites were compared by peel-off test and plasticity index measurement. The results indicated that both treatments successfully improved the FFs’ surface characteristics, resulting in increased wettability and surface energy. The higher peeling strengths and lower plasticity indices confirmed the improvement in the adhesion of treated FFs with the biopolymer matrices.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Flax fabrics
• biopolymers
• GPE
• PBS
• PA11
• plasma treatments

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contributions

All authors contributed to the study’s conception, design, data validation and results evaluation. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Mohsen Bahrami, and all authors reviewed and commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Consent for publication

Not applicable (manuscript does not contain data from any individual person).

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not applicable (manuscript doesn’t involve human participants, human data or human tissue).

Additional information

Funding

The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript.