Flax Fibers Composite Made up by 3D Printing

Abstract

This preliminary work deals with potential use of additive manufacturing to print a bio-based composite. For this, mixture of clay and flax fibers was used. First, we proceeded to the optimization of the printability conditions by ensuring that the water dosage allows a good extrusion with a continuous volume flow rate. Moreover, the yield stress obtained must allow to deposit several layers without loss of stability. This criterion was verified and then we printed a square element of 20 cm length where 4x4x16cm3 specimens were cut and used to evaluate bending strength. We have shown that under some conditions we are able to print with different layers this composite. To improve the limit height of a printed element, additional tests are necessary to increase the resistance of this type of composite. This study will be continued by Optimizing mix design using other additives and introducing of reinforcement.

Contributions of Information and communication technologies to industrialization of additive manufacturing

“…So, we could print 6 superposed layers and we noted that from the 7th one the element collapses. Which is similar for study of Chems et al [4].…”