Utilizing Flax/Carbon fibers reinforced composite in a matrix of PLA resin in the Field Hockey sticks industry

Abstract

Most of the carbon fiber manufacturing is very harmful to the environment, producing around 20 tons of CO2 for every ton of carbon fiber produced. Apart from affecting ecosystems, the environmental cost of this non-biodegradable material is increased by carbon fiber products such as field hockey sticks made completely of 100% carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy. While these sticks offer superior mechanical properties such as high tensile strength and modulus, they contribute heavily to resource depletion and climate change. The current study deals with a sustainable alternative using flax/carbon fiber composites reinforced with PLA resin to balance better mechanical performance, increased biodegradability, and less carbon content. Theoretical calculations, supported by simulations with the help of Ansys modeling, were performed to predict a very small deformation, about 0.9 mm, under tensile stress by 36 MPa load. These values are competitive enough with traditional carbon fiber sticks to prove the feasibility of this composite as its replacement. The theoretical results were validated by comprehensive modeled tensile, flexural, and impact testing using standardized conditions through Ansys software. The results show a potential increase of 56% in biodegradability and a reduction of 20% in carbon content compared to conventional designs. Additionally, the use of flax fiber reduces reliance on fossil-based materials, contributing to a more circular economy.  The results demonstrated significant potential for using natural fibers in this field. Future research aims to develop fully natural fiber-based sticks with enhanced mechanical properties.