Single fibre analysis of hemp and flax fibres, with reference to place of cultivation, degree of roasting, process status (raw fibre, scutched fibre, combed fibre, UD laid fibre, spun fibre)

The testing of hemp- and flax-based single fibres and semifinished products (UD Roving, Yarn) was carried out as part of the research project "alpine hemp 360°". The aim of the project was to develop hemp-based composite structures whose fibre reinforcement comes in the form of agricultural waste from small-scale farming in the Alpine region. The underlying thesis is that low-processed hemp bast fibres, pulled directly from the stalk, can achieve both the highest strength and the highest modulus of elasticity in the component. A ski and trekking pole was developed as a pilot application, which was subsequently launched on the market by the industrial partner LEKI 2023 in the form of a first pilot series "Hemp One Vario". The results of the present study, which were developed in an early phase of the project, have shown that the performance assessment of fibre reinforcement in composites can only be achieved with difficulty by means of individual fibre testing (tensile test) or optical analysis (optical microscopy). Accordingly, methods for fibre length measurement and 3-point bending tests on rod-shaped composite samples were prioritized. The project "alpine hemp 360°" was carried out by UIBK Research Intitute for Textile Chemistry and Textile Physics (scientific partner) , troi.composite components (company), Michael Halbfurter (farmer). Funded by Land Tirol Forschung, Entwicklung und Innovation