Elsevier Vernet, N.; Ruiz, E.; Advani, S.; Alms, JB.; Aubert, M.; Barburski, M.; Barari, B.... (2014) Abstract:In this second international permeability benchmark, the in-plane permeability values of a carbon fabric were determined by 12 participants worldwide. One other participant also investigated the deformation of this fabric. The aim of this work was to obtain comparable results in order to make a step towards standardization of permeability measurements of fibrous reinforcements. The procedures used by most participants were according to the guidelines defined for this exercise after the first benchmark. Unidirectional injections in three in-plane directions of the fabric were conducted to determine the unsaturated in-plane permeability tensor. Parameters such as fiber volume fraction, injection pressure and fluid viscosity have been fixed in order to minimize sources of scatter. The comparison of the results from each participant was encouraging. The scatter between data obtained while respecting the test guidelines was close to the scatter of the setups themselves. A slightly 2 higher dispersion was observed when some parameters differed from the recommendations.Overall, a good correlation is observed between all the results of this exercise.

Contemporary researchers have specified that natural flax fiber is comparable with synthetic fibers due to its unique physical and mechanical characteristics which have been recognized for decades. Flax fiber reinforced composites have the potential for wide usage in sport and maritime industries, and as automotive accessories. In addition, this composite is in the development stages for future applications in the aeronautical industry. However, designing the flax composite parts is a challenging task due to the great variability in fiber properties. This is caused by many factors, including the plant origin and growth conditions, plant age, location in the stem, fibers extraction method, and the fact that there is often a non-uniform cross-section of the fibers. Furthermore, the water and moisture absorption tendency of the flax fibers and their composites and the consequent detrimental effects on their mechanical performance are also major drawbacks. Fibers may soften and swell with absorbed water molecules, which could affect the performance of this bio-composite. Flax fibers' moisture absorption propensity may lead to a deterioration of the fiber-matrix interface, weakening the interfacial strength and ultimately degrading the quality of the composite. This review represents a brief summary of the main findings of research into flax fiber reinforced composites, focusing on the challenges of its water and moisture absorption behavior on their performance.

The growing usage of bio-composite materials in different engineering applications demands a thorough understanding of their performance during their service. Extreme environmental conditions, such as warm, humid, and freezing environments, among others, can degrade the mechanical properties of the bio-composites when they are exposed to harsh environmental conditions. In addition, the use of these composites in underwater applications can also shorten their life cycle. In this work, the durability and mechanical performance (tensile and flexural behavior) of flax/bio-epoxy composites exposed to different environmental conditions were evaluated. These conditions were chosen to replicate those found outdoors that can affect the durability of these materials: water immersion, warm humid environment and freeze-thaw conditions. Moisture and water absorption behavior were evaluated and the water content (or exposure time) was related to the physical changes and mechanical properties. Results show that the mechanical properties of flax/bio-epoxy composites are clearly degraded by water ageing when they are compared to the "as manufactured" composites. The tensile strength and modulus is decreased approximately by 9% and 57%, respectively for water saturated (immersed in water until saturation) samples compared to as manufactured samples. On contrary, this reduction rate is only 0.8% and 3%,