TY - JOUR T1 - Variability of mechanical properties of flax fibres for composite reinforcement. A review A1 - Baley,Christophe A1 - Gomina,Moussa A1 - Breard,Joel A1 - Bourmaud,Alain A1 - Davies,Peter AD - Université de Bretagne Sud, UMR CNRS 6027, IRDL, rue Saint Maudé, 56100 Lorient, France AD - CRISMAT, UMR 6508 CNRS, 6 Bd Maréchal Juin, 14050 Caen Cedex 4, France AD - LOMC, UMR 6294 Université du Havre/CNRS, 53 rue de Prony, 76058, Le Havre, France AD - IFREMER, Centre de Bretagne, BP70, 29280 Plouzané, France UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2019.111984 DO - 10.1016/j.indcrop.2019.111984 KW - Flax fibre KW - Composite KW - Variability KW - Mechanical properties N2 - Flax fibres are a promising reinforcement in the development of biocomposites and are finding new applications in transport structures. However, there is a perceived problem with plant fibres related to the variability of the properties of these natural materials. This paper describes the factors which affect variability, from plant growth conditions to fibre sampling and testing. A large number of test results are presented (characterization of elementary fibres, bundles, assemblies of bundles, and unidirectional composites), and it is shown that provided fibre supply is carefully controlled, characterization procedures are appropriate, and manufacturing processes are optimal then excellent composite properties can be achieved with low variability. Y1 - 2020/03 PB - Elsevier BV JF - Industrial Crops And Products SN - 0926-6690 VL - 145 ID - 70488 ER -