{
  "abstract": "This study explores the second-generation biocomposites utilising flax fabric reinforcement with liquid thermoplastic Elium® (acrylic) resin. The surface tension and wettability of the liquid acrylic resin with flax fabric were characterised through experimental techniques. Subsequent manufacturing of second-generation flax fibre/Elium® laminates involved distinct reprocessing routes incorporating varying levels of reclaimed materials, with the natural fibre pre-form preserved and reused. A dissolution process using acetone as solvent and water as non-solvent enabled recovery of the acrylic polymer matrix. The residual polymer remaining on the flax fibres after dissolution served as a sizing agent in the second-generation laminates, resulting in improved interfacial bonding. After normalisation to a common fibre volume fraction, the second-generation infused laminate demonstrated a 6.5% increase in flexural strength, a 16% increase in flexural modulus, and an 11.4% increase in short beam strength compared to its virgin counterpart. Molecular simulations further elucidated the interactions between flax fibre, acrylic monomer, and acrylic polymer. These findings demonstrate a viable pathway for the production of circular acrylic matrix based thermoplastic biocomposites with significant industrial potential.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "School of Engineering, Institute for Materials and Processes, The University of Edinburgh, Sanderson Building, Robert Stevenson Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FB, UK",
    "Laboratory of Complex Surfaces and Interfaces, Department of Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 44, 3001 Leuven, Belgium"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Maurice Sager Sawalha",
      "orcid": "0009-0002-2959-1898"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Aditya Prakash Shembekar",
      "orcid": "0009-0001-1020-0378"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Arun Kumar Alapati",
      "orcid": "0009-0008-1258-5356"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Aslıhan Kabaş"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Ali Khodayari",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-7664-4054"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "David Seveno",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1726-7890"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Eleonora Ricci",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-2479-3653"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Dipa Ray",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-2353-9581"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bzxr6tn2jmfn2.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/polym18202466",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13709155",
  "id": "bzxr6tn2jmfn2",
  "issns": [
    "2073-4360"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/20/2466",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2507|Natural Fiber Reinforced Composites"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221089844",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13709155?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13709155",
  "pmid": "42942587",
  "published": "2026-10-09",
  "publisher": "MDPI AG",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bzxr6tn2jmfn2.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:44Z",
      "native_id": "10.3390/polym18202466",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/20/2466"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:22:24Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42942587",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42942587"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:2507|Natural Fiber Reinforced Composites",
      "subfield": "materials-polymers"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Recycling and Reprocessing of Flax/Acrylic Biocomposites: A Dissolution Method Using Acetone as Solvent and Water as Non-Solvent",
  "title_text": "Recycling and Reprocessing of Flax/Acrylic Biocomposites: A Dissolution Method Using Acetone as Solvent and Water as Non-Solvent",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:22:24Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bzxr6tn2jmfn2",
  "venue": "Polymers",
  "versions": []
}