Studies on mechanical properties of thermoplastic composites prepared from flax-polypropylene needle punched nonwovens

Natural fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites using flax and polypropylene were prepared using compression molding process. Needle punched nonwovens were used as preforms for preparing the composites. Three variables namely fiber weight proportion, areal weight of the mat, and needling density were chosen for the study. Modified Taguchi L18 experimental design with dummy variable was chosen for the study and the effect of the above variables on tensile, flexural, and impact properties of the composites were studied. By altering the fiber weight proportion and areal weight of the mat, tensile and flexural properties improved. An increase in 34% of tensile strength and 40% of flexural strength has been observed. Impact properties of the composites were significantly altered by modifying the process variables. Increasing the needling density led to a decrease in overall mechanical properties of the composites.