Airtech
Published

Sicomin bioresin used in NOTOX boards

Sicomin (Châteauneuf les Martigues, France) and surfboard manufacturer NOTOX (Anglet, France) have created a bioresin formulation that offers as little environmental impact as possible and supports greener production methods.

Share

Over a decade ago, Sicomin (Châteauneuf les Martigues, France) and surfboard manufacturer NOTOX (Anglet, France) began to address the untapped potential of bioresins in the manufacture of sports equipment. Together the companies have created a formulation that offers as little environmental impact as possible and supports greener production methods. The resulting product is Sicomin’s trademarked GreenPoxy 56 and it is now used to manufacture the entire range of NOTOX greenOne short board, long board, standup paddleboard (SUP) models, kitesurf boards and the newly launched Korko board.

When NOTOX was established in 2006, the founders’ vision was clear – to provide surfers with boards that respect nature and to protect the people that produce them. The company was looking to offer the market an alternative range of surfboards that were not produced with standard glass-reinforced polyester polymers and shaped polyurethane foam cores.

Although these traditional materials delivered clear performance benefits and helped elevate surfing to a high performance sport, the products emit toxins that have significant environmental and human health impacts, say the companies. NOTOX therefore approached Sicomin in 2009 and together the companies began their development program.  

Sicomin had anticipated the rise in demand for naturally derived epoxy systems and was already in the process of developing their first bioresin, GreenPoxy 56. The product contains over 51% carbon content which is sourced from plant and vegetable matter, the highest level available on the market.

NOTOX used GreenPoxy 56 for the construction of their first greenOne board design, a 2m hybrid short board. Prototype boards were constructed with EPS foam (expanded polystyrene) that contains up to 100% recycled content and is guaranteed to be HCFC-free. A quadraxial flax fabric was then applied to minimize torsion and bending in the board, followed by the application of Sicomin’s GreenPoxy 56 for vacuum lamination. This system provides a clear and waterproof coating and a robust, hard wearing gloss laminate.

NOTOX strives to achieve the lowest carbon footprint possible and sources 80% of their products in France and 20% in Belgium. The boards are then assembled at the NOTOX facility in Anglet under their strict quality and environmental control standards labelled Ecoride Gold. The boards are trialed on the challenging surf beaches of the Basque region in southwest France on the Atlantic Coast. The  greenOne board made from recycled EPS, Sicomin’s GreenPoxy56 bio resin and flax fibers generates only 1kg of production waste, and contains significantly more recycled content than standard boards.

“Providing surfers with boards that match their core values is our aim. We are constantly striving to produce the most eco-responsible and sustainable products possible and through our technological synergy with Sicomin we have achieved this,” comments Pierre Pomiers, R&D consultant expert at NOTOX.

Sicomin continues to invest considerable resources in the innovation of environmentally-enhanced systems. The GreenPoxy product range now encompasses; GreenPoxy33, GreenPoxy56 and the newly launched InfuGreen810; InfuGreen 810 has been formulated to support manufacturers producing parts using injection or infusion techniques and is also DNV GL maritime approved.These products contain bio contents ranging from 28% to 51%. The entire GreenPoxy range is available in high volume, industrial quantities and is certified by the American BETA laboratory and French CNRS and tested in accordance with Carbon 14 measurements (ASTM D6866 or XP CEN/TS 16640).

Airtech
Coast-Line Intl
Smart Tools that act as Mandrels
A manufacturing puzzle
Sysenqo high performance materials
NewStar Adhesives - Nautical Adhesives
industrial CNC routers
CW Tech Days Sustainability - Register Today!
Chem Trend
Carbon Fiber 2024
CompositesWorld
CompositesWorld

Related Content

Aerospace

Plant tour: Middle River Aerostructure Systems, Baltimore, Md., U.S.

The historic Martin Aircraft factory is advancing digitized automation for more sustainable production of composite aerostructures.

Read More
Natural Fibers

Natural fiber composites: Growing to fit sustainability needs

Led by global and industry-wide sustainability goals, commercial interest in flax and hemp fiber-reinforced composites grows into higher-performance, higher-volume applications.

Read More
Aerospace

Thermoplastic composites welding advances for more sustainable airframes

Multiple demonstrators help various welding technologies approach TRL 6 in the quest for lighter weight, lower cost.

Read More
Recycling

The state of recycled carbon fiber

As the need for carbon fiber rises, can recycling fill the gap?

Read More

Read Next

Thermoplastics

From the CW Archives: The tale of the thermoplastic cryotank

In 2006, guest columnist Bob Hartunian related the story of his efforts two decades prior, while at McDonnell Douglas, to develop a thermoplastic composite crytank for hydrogen storage. He learned a lot of lessons.

Read More
Trends

CW’s 2024 Top Shops survey offers new approach to benchmarking

Respondents that complete the survey by April 30, 2024, have the chance to be recognized as an honoree.

Read More
Pressure Vessels

Composites end markets: Energy (2024)

Composites are used widely in oil/gas, wind and other renewable energy applications. Despite market challenges, growth potential and innovation for composites continue.

Read More
Airtech International Inc.