Viscoelastic property measurement of industrially processed hemp fiber at nanoscale using atomic force microscopy

This study investigated the time-dependent mechanical properties, with a focus on the viscoelastic behavior, of industrially processed hemp fiber using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Viscoelastic parameters were derived directly from force versus displacement curves using the Lee-Radok’s solution for viscoelastic contacts. Transient indentation techniques were employed, and viscoelastic models, including Power-Law Rheology and Maxwell models, were applied to extract time-dependent relaxation parameters. The results indicated that hemp displays primarily solid like behavior, with distinctive viscoelastic characteristics affected by indentation speed: it demonstrates regular behavior at lower speeds and shear-thinning behavior at higher speeds. These findings highlight the potential of hemp as a reinforcement material in composite matrices, emphasizing its robust structural integrity and superior damping properties.