%X The flexure response of novel thermoplastic (Elium®) 3D fibre-reinforced composites (FRC) was evaluated and compared with a conventional thermoset (Epolam®)-based 3D-FRC. Ten different types of sample 3D-FRC were prepared by varying fibre orientations, i.e., 0�, 30�, 45�, 60� and 90�, and resin system, i.e., thermoplastic and thermoset. The bending characteristics and failure mechanisms were determined by conducting a three-point bend test. Results elucidate that the on-axis specimens show linear response and brittle failure; in contrast, the off-axis specimens depicted highly nonlinear response and ductile failure. The thermoplastic on-axis specimen exhibited almost similar flexure strength; in comparison, the off-axis specimens show ~17 lower flexure strength compared to thermoset 3D-FRC. Thermoplastic 3D-FRC shows ~40 higher energy absorption, ~23 lower flexure modulus and ~27 higher flexure strains as compared to its thermoset counterpart. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
%K Failure (mechanical); Fiber reinforced plastics; Thermoplastics, 3D composites; 3D fibers; Fibre-reinforced composite; Flexure behaviors; Off-axis flexure; Off-axis flexure behavior; Off-axis specimens; On-axis; On-axis flexure behavior, Thermosets
%D 2022
%N 11
%R 10.3390/polym14112225
%O cited By 5
%L scholars16672
%J Polymers
%T Off-Axis and On-Axis Performance of Novel Acrylic Thermoplastic (Elium®) 3D Fibre-Reinforced Composites under Flexure Load
%I MDPI
%V 14
%A S.Z.H. Shah
%A P.S.M. Megat-Yusoff
%A S. Karuppanan
%A R.S. Choudhry
%A Z. Sajid