from the conferences organized by TANGER Ltd.
Flax biocomposites are increasingly being considered for lightweight structures within the framework of circular economy principles, including end-of-life reuse and mechanical recycling. However, under real-world operating conditions, natural fibers are highly hygroscopic and may be exposed not only to water but also to urea-based automotive fluids, such as AdBlue. These media can affect fiber swelling and the fiber-matrix interface. This paper aims to verify whether the controlled sorption of these fluids alters load transfer and, consequently, the tensile properties of the flax biocomposite. For the purposes of this study, specimens comprising flax reinforcement and a polymer matrix were prepared and divided into three groups: a dried reference group, a water-saturated group, and an AdBlue-saturated group. Following immersion conditioning to a constant mass, standardized tensile testing is performed, complemented by fracture surface analysis to identify the dominant failure mechanisms. The paper will discuss the dependence of the tensile response on the type of medium, focusing on phenomena such as water-induced matrix plasticization, interfacial adhesion changes, and the potential influence of dissolved AdBlue components on crack initiation. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of various saturation levels on composite strength and potential interfacial debonding. The findings will provide practical recommendations for the design and qualification of flax biocomposites exposed to moisture and operating fluids, thereby linking operational exposure with recycling-oriented reuse scenarios.
Keywords: recycling; flax fibre; biocomposite; fluid uptake; AdBlue© This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.