Assessing the structural, mechanical, and thermal performance of Linum usitatissimum/carbon fiber composites by using novel WASPAS and CRITIC methods

In this study, a hybrid composite sample was fabricated using short carbon and flax fibers, with varying weight percentages (20 %, 30 %, and 40 %) and pressures (12, 14, and 16 MPa). The Flax Carbon (FC) composites were fabricated using the high-pressure compression molding method and tested using the Taguchi L9 orthogonal array. Both tensile and flexural strength increased by 11 % due to the positive effect of epoxy polarity on hydrogen bonding. Based on the experimental results, the composite sample with 30 % FC and 16 MPa pressure demonstrated the highest mechanical strength, with 66.74 MPa tensile strength, 204.32 MPa flexural strength, 26.82 J impact strength, and 99 Shore D hardness strength, as well as a maximum decomposition temperature of 394.6 ℃. During the water and chemical absorption tests, the FC composite samples exhibited weight gains of 2.92 % and 3.34 %, respectively. This FC hybrid composite has the potential to serve as an alternative to medium-density fiberboard and commercial plywood. • Influencing factors on the properties of short carbon and flax fiber reinforced hybrid composites were reported. • The epoxy polarity positively affects hydrogen bonding with fibers, resulting in a 11 % increase in both tensile and flexural strengths. • Novel insights on highest mechanical properties are gained via the use of Design of Experiments. • The proposed Carbon Flax (CF) hybrid composites are a superior alternative to medium-density fiberboards (MDF) and plywood products.