The potential use of carbon fibre laminate composites is limited by the weak out-ofplane properties, especially delamination resistance. The effect of incorporating titanium carbide to the mesophase pitch matrix precursor of carbon fibre laminate composites on interlaminar shear strength is studied both on carbonised and graphitised composites. The presence of titanium carbide modifies the opti...

This paper studies the fracture behaviour of unidirectional carbon fibre reinforced carbon matrix composites and its relation with the type of fibre-matrix interface developed in the composite. Model unidirectional carbon-carbon composites were prepared using the same type of fibre and different pitches as matrix precursors. These included both commercial pitches and synthesized in the laborato...

Increasing the efficiency of wind turbines will be vital for the wind energy sector to continue growing. The drive for increased efficiency is pushing turbine manufacturers to shift from glass fibre composite blades towards carbon/glass fibre-hybrid composite blades. This shift brings significant challenges in terms of optimising the design and understanding the failure of these new blade mater...

This paper investigates the hygrothermal effects on the failure mechanisms in bending of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites. Accelerated diffusion testing was carried out by immersion at 50°C constant temperature and 70 bar hydrostatic pressure to study the effects of fresh or sea water diffusion into pre-preg CFRP laminates. Consequently the composite laminates were tested in be...

This work describes flax fibre reinforced polymeric composites with recent developments. The properties of flax fibres, as well as advanced fibre treatments such as mercerization, silane treatment, acylation, peroxide treatment and coatings for the enhancement of flax/matrix incompatibility are presented. The characteristic properties and characterizations of flax composites on various polymers...

A composite material is made by combining two or more materials to give a unique combination of properties, one of which is made up of stiff, long fibres and the other, a binder or 'matrix' which holds the fibres in place. The fibres are strong and stiff relative to the matrix and are generally orthotropic. More recently natural fibers have been employed in combination with plastics. The abunda...

Natural fibers can be attractive reinforcing materials in thermosetting polymers due to their low density and high specific mechanical properties. Although the research effort in this area has grown substantially over the last 20 years, manufacturing technologies to make use of short natural fibers in high volume fraction composites; are still limited. Natural fibers, after retting and preproce...