2026-11-05 リンショーピング大学
スウェーデンのリンショーピン大学の研究チームは、酸化グラフェン（Graphene Oxide：GO）を亜麻繊維にコーティングすることで、天然繊維強化複合材料の耐水性と機械的特性を向上させる技術を開発した。亜麻繊維はガラス繊維に比べて製造時のエネルギー消費が少なく、軽量で環境負荷の低い代替材料として期待される一方、吸水や湿度による劣化が課題となっている。研究では、酸化グラフェンを1.5重量％添加した亜麻繊維とバイオ由来エポキシ樹脂から複合材料を作製。層間せん断強度は未処理材料の16.2 MPaから20.2 MPaへ約25％向上した。さらに、3％食塩水に30日間浸漬した船舶用ハッチの吸水率は、未処理品の約4.8％に対し約2.9％となり、約40％低減した。一方、酸化グラフェンの過剰添加は引張強度などを低下させるため、最適な添加量と均一なコーティング技術が重要となる。天然繊維複合材料の船舶・輸送機器への応用や、持続可能な材料開発につながる成果である。
Photo:Ulrik Svedin
Textile samples. The dark one is coated with graphene oxide, while the light one is uncoated. These fibres are incorporated into a composite, which is then tested in water.
＜関連情報＞
- https://liu.se/en/news-item/graphene-helps-flax-fibres-resist-water
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359836826006414
グラフェン繊維表面改質による亜麻／エポキシ複合材料の界面エンジニアリング：機械的特性の向上と海洋耐久性 Interfacial engineering of flax/epoxy composites via graphene fiber surface modification: Mechanical enhancement and marine durability
Khurshid Malik,Marie Jonsson,Mikael Segersäll,Erik Khranovsky,Mykhailo Zhybak,Dimitrios Georgouvelas,Makki Abdelmouleh, Sami Boufi,Mohamed Sahbi Loukil
Composites Part B: Engineering Available online: 23 July 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.114020
Highlights
- Graphene oxide was deposited onto flax fibres using a scalable coating process.
- Fibre coating enhanced interlaminar shear and flexural performance of flax/epoxy composites.
- Optimal GO loading (1.5 wt%) improved thermal stability and interfacial efficiency.
- Water absorption was reduced by up to 40% in a full-scale marine hatch demonstrator.
- GO coating improved durability and mechanical retention under hot saline conditions.
Abstract
The structural application of flax fiber reinforced epoxy composites is constrained by poor fiber–matrix interfacial bonding and high moisture absorption. This study investigates graphene oxide (GO) fiber surface coating to enhance the mechanical performance, thermal stability, and marine durability, demonstrated from laminate to full-scale structural level. GO was deposited onto flax fibers via a scalable coating process at concentrations of 0.75, 1.5, and 2.5 wt%. The modified fibers were used to fabricate composite laminates and a full-scale marine hatch demonstrator using vacuum infusion molding. The results revealed significant improvements in flexural strength and interlaminar shear strength, while a reduction in tensile strength was observed, attributed to fiber surface modification during the coating process. Thermal analysis revealed enhanced thermal stability and rigidity at moderate GO loadings. Water resistance improved significantly, with moisture uptake reduced by approximately 25% at the laminate level and by up to 40% in the hatch demonstrator when 1.5 wt% GO-coated fibers were employed. The findings demonstrate that controlled GO fiber surface modification is an effective approach for durable natural fiber composites in marine environments.
