EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THERMOMECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF POLYPROPYLENE/SHORT HEMP FIBERS INJECTED COMPOSITES

The thermoplastic bio-composite reinforced with short hemp fiber known a very large development, mainly in the automotive industry. Improving the mechanical performance of these materials requires the mastery and knowledge of the different mechanisms of their destruction. We present an experimental study of the mechanical and viscoelastic behavior of injected thermoplastic composites with polypropylene reinforced by short hemp fibers. We have shown, the evolution of the mechanical and thermo-mechanical performance of these materials as a function of structural parameters, namely: the volume fraction of the components; the properties of the matrix; the properties of fibers; the interface fiber / matrix; but also injection processing parameters: injection rate and the injection temperature and the mold temperature control.