To All:

Nowadays bio-derived composite resins - like polylactide and furan based resins - combined with natural flax (obtained from bast) fibres - rather than petrochemical-based products - is a hot topic. It is stated that material properties are rather promising, not only because of environmental friendly disposal, but also because of intrinsic flax performance. For example: it is told that natural flax fibres have a comparable strength and equal fire-resistance properties and that they are 10-30% lighter than glass fibres (no doubt about that). Assuming that limitations in processing technologies and molded part performance will be overcome within a relative short term (with support from the European Union, see the recently commenced Biocomp project), my interest is the mechanical and chemical retention of the following materials when exposed to a water vapour (moisture humidity 0 to 100% at ambient conditions):

- Ciba Geig LY556 Epoxy Resin reinforced with 50 wt% natural flax fiber;
- Polylactide based resin with 20 wt% natural flax fibre;
- Furan based resin with 20 wt% natural flax fibre.

How does this compare to the diffusion, permeation and corrosion behaviour of similar resins reinforced with glass fibres? And how about Interlaminar shear strength (ILLS) of flax and resins considered, in humid conditions compared to glass fibre reinforced polymers?

Regards,
Brooke Jenkins

p.s. could you also make a statement on the UV light resistance in humid environment of polylactide and furan based resin composites.