Exploring the dew retting feasibility of hemp in very contrasting European environments: Influence on the tensile mechanical properties of fibres and composites

Retting of fibrous plants such as flax is an essential step in the extraction fibre bundles and their transformation into textiles reinforcement fabrics for use garments composites. Dew-retting traditionally performed from Northwest France to Netherlands, climate highly favourable this process. Hemp a plant that can be grown almost all over Europe with low environmental impact. A retting also required facilitate separation hemp fibres before or 1D 3D composites, which requires thoroughly separated fibres. currently used production zones. The present work demonstrates dew conducted under different climates on soils, dry Mediterranean environments up cooler regions eastern France. If ternary combination moisture, temperature solar radiation appropriate, field (dew-retting) short about three weeks. In less conditions, dryer areas when late season after seed maturity (cooler temperatures), it lasts longer, but reach suitable levels. When care proper monitoring level, dew-retting process does impact neither tensile properties elementary (by degrading crystalline cellulose I) nor unidirectional injected composite materials. Consequently, if extracted scutching hackling, load-bearing composites produced dew-retted stems wide range locations, therefore not limited conventional “dew zone” areas.