Using hemp fabric instead of fiberglass

free radical wrote:

Gjac wrote:
What are the mechanical properties of the fiber and how does or compare with graphite, Kevlar, or FG? The fibers by them selves have no strength except in tension. Resin stabilizes fibers to give them strength, for most repair applications one would do on a FG RV just about any fiber will work. I have used old bed sheets and epoxy resin for repairs. Repairs usually fail in the bond line not in the fiber matix. Where would you commerially buy woven hemp?

Bit of googling got this

https://envirotextile.com/hemp-fabrics/wholesale-hemp-fabric/

. I could not find any mechcanical properties for the fiber. What I did find is a lot of pro marijuana sites saying it is 10 times stronger that steel. The use of cellulose and other renewable fibers have been looked at for years and are light and impact resistant but never had the strength of FG epoxy or graphite epoxy for structural use.

"hemp does not contain intoxicating chemicals"

Free, hemp "contains" whatever the grower sprayed on it OR put in the soil while growing it. Me thinks you are too hemped up to discuss this.

Gjac wrote:
What are the mechanical properties of the fiber and how does or compare with graphite, Kevlar, or FG? The fibers by them selves have no strength except in tension. Resin stabilizes fibers to give them strength, for most repair applications one would do on a FG RV just about any fiber will work. I have used old bed sheets and epoxy resin for repairs. Repairs usually fail in the bond line not in the fiber matix. Where would you commerially buy woven hemp?

Bit of googling got this

https://envirotextile.com/hemp-fabrics/wholesale-hemp-fabric/

agesilaus wrote:
From the engineering standpoint you would need to satisfy yourself that Hemp cloth is not only as good but much better than fiberglass cloth. That is because fiberglass+epoxy has many decades of proven performance behind it. It lasts for many years when used properly. It is UV and weather resistant.....the list goes on and on.

What does hemp cloth have going for it? Just that it satisfies someone's sense of political correctness. Will it rot in 3 years? Who knows.

A minor correction: fiberglass is not very UV resistant. So they apply a UV resistant gelcoat overtop it. Gelcoat would be advised no matter the cloth type.

What are the mechanical properties of the fiber and how does or compare with graphite, Kevlar, or FG? The fibers by them selves have no strength except in tension. Resin stabilizes fibers to give them strength, for most repair applications one would do on a FG RV just about any fiber will work. I have used old bed sheets and epoxy resin for repairs. Repairs usually fail in the bond line not in the fiber matix. Where would you commerially buy woven hemp?

I would want to use vinylester resin or epoxy resin rather than polyester resin as the the first two are more water resistant than the last. As others have said, using an organic is a bit riskier in terms of failure due to water intrusion or UV damage. However, people have been building cold-molded sailboats for years using wood strips laminated with epoxy resin. You do buy resin with or add a UV protectant to the resin or paint it/varnish it to ensure it lasts. Lots of old wood sailboats boats used canvas, stretched over a deck and held with staples or tacks, then painted with oil-base paints to create a non-slip, waterproof deck. So why not give hemp a try?

free radical wrote:

darsben1 wrote:
I wonder what the drug sniffing dogs would do?

Probably nothing,,hemp does not contain intoxicating chemicals like marijuana,,
hemp was used to make rope and fabric many years ago..

Its similar in name only to canabis aka canabis cativa..two different plants,,one a drug the other hemp a type of weed..
smoking hemp wouldnt get you high..

How do you know? Have ya ever twisted up a fat hemp Scooby snack and taken a few good tokes? Personally I'd be willing to give it a try. Cheech and Chong once built an ice cream truck out of it so why not a 5th wheel lol.

It's already been done by Cheech & Chong in Up In Smoke.
RichH

You must have just watched Jay Leno's garage. Right?

darsben1 wrote:
I wonder what the drug sniffing dogs would do?

Probably nothing,,hemp does not contain intoxicating chemicals like marijuana,,
hemp was used to make rope and fabric many years ago..

Its similar in name only to canabis aka canabis cativa..two different plants,,one a drug the other hemp a type of weed..
smoking hemp wouldnt get you high..