@Article{JRM.2015.634106,
AUTHOR = {K. M. Hess, W. V. Srubar III},
TITLE = {Mechanical Characterization of Gelatin-Flax Natural-Fiber Composites for Construction},
JOURNAL = {Journal of Renewable Materials},
VOLUME = {3},
YEAR = {2015},
NUMBER = {3},
PAGES = {175--182},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/jrm/v3n3/49573},
ISSN = {2164-6341},
ABSTRACT = {This article concerns the development and characterization of a protein-based alternative to traditional fiberreinforced polymer (FRP) composites used in construction. In this work, gelatin-based resins were prepared at
various gelatin-to-water (g/w) ratios. The effects of g/w ratio and curing time on resin mechanical properties
were investigated. Using gelatin resins with a 30% g/w ratio, (i) gelatin-flax and (ii) gelatin-fiberglass composites
were fabricated, and their mechanical properties were characterized and compared to both (iii) epoxy-flax and
(iv) epoxy-fiberglass composites. Fracture surface morphologies were investigated using scanning electron
microscopy. Results indicate that gelatin-flax composites exhibit similar mechanical properties compared to the
epoxy-fiberglass composites and that FRP composites with fully hydrophobic or fully hydrophilic constituents
have better tensile strengths than composites with a combination of hydrophobic and hydrophilic constituents.
Based on this preliminary mechanical and physical property investigation, gelatin-based resins exhibit a marked
potential to be used as biobased materials in the construction industry, especially in temporary structural retrofit
and rehabilitation applications.},
DOI = {10.7569/JRM.2015.634106}
}