Development of hemp fabric reinforced composites (original) (raw)

One of the activities producing a destructive impact on the environment is uncontrolled or illegal timber harvesting. It is a response to high market demand due to the modernisation of lifestyles. The awareness of world’s population of the global environmental problems related to this issue has increased the popularity of natural fibre reinforced composites. Its availability and the data available on its properties tend to provide assurance for its application in many fields. The main objective of this project is to develop material using woven hemp fabric (WHF) and vinyl ester resin as a potential alternative to the utilisation of woods or engineered wood products. Apart from the composite development, fire retardant, water absorption and fatigue properties of the WHF reinforced composite are investigated. Some characterisations of the fabric properties were undertaken to verify the data given by the supplier as well as to collect more data about the fabric since the data given by ...