Natural Fibers for Composites
Natural fibers are gaining prominence as eco-friendly alternatives for reinforcing composite materials, offering renewable and biodegradable options. Derived from sources like jute, hemp, flax, and bamboo, these fibers are appreciated for their low cost, lightweight nature, and reduced environmental impact compared to traditional reinforcements. Natural fiber composites exhibit respectable strength and stiffness, often used in applications where their unique properties, such as vibration damping or acoustic insulation, are advantageous.
Latest Natural Fibers Articles
VIEW ALLScale Advanced Composites natural fibers target cycling industry
Bio|Power and Cor|Power composite reinforcements aim to reduce materials costs and greenhouse emissions while enhancing performance.
Read MoreFlax fiber-based technologies target application diversity
JEC World 2024: Bcomp continues the tradition of exhibiting components from diverse markets, including motorsport, wider mobility and performance sports equipment, that incorporate ampliTex and powerRibs fibers.
Read MoreSUSPENS project shares one-year progress, next steps
European project dedicated its first year to sustainable materials development and prototype manufacture, looks to validating performance.
WatchEuropean boatbuilders lead quest to build recyclable composite boats
Marine industry constituents are looking to take composite use one step further with the production of tough and recyclable recreational boats. Some are using new infusible thermoplastic resins.
Read MoreEkbacken Studios furniture incorporates Sulapac wood composites
High-end design furniture is 3D printed from bio-based, eco-friendly materials for aesthetic and sustainable home product options.
Read MoreSulapac introduces Sulapac Flow 1.7 to replace PLA, ABS and PP in FDM, FGF
Available as filament and granules for extrusion, new wood composite matches properties yet is compostable, eliminates microplastics and reduces carbon footprint.
Read MoreKnowledge Centers
This CW Tech Days event will explore the technologies, materials, and strategies that can help composites manufacturers become more sustainable.
LEARN MOREReview the state of the art in design, simulation, failure analysis, digital twins, virtual testing and virtual inspection.
LEARN MOREThe composites industry is increasingly recognizing the imperative of sustainability in its operations. As demand for lightweight and durable materials rises across various sectors, such as automotive, aerospace, and construction, there is a growing awareness of the environmental impact associated with traditional composite manufacturing processes.
LEARN MORELatest Natural Fibers News And Updates
Natural fiber composite activities highlighted through comprehensive database, event displays
JEC World 2024: The Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp is hosting an extended Natural Fibre Village, in addition to its latest work with the ecoinvent materials database and a conference session.
Read MoreKordsa to work with Bpreg to expand biocomposite capabilities
Kordsa concludes significant investment aimed at further enhancing its expertise in composites technologies, including development and distribution of more sustainable fiber options to customers.
Read MoreFlax fiber composite innovations, circularity services
JEC World 2024: Flax fiber producer Groupe Depestele and sustainable composites company Greenboats demonstrate flax fiber materials, demonstrators and product offer Circular Structures.
WatchSicomin GreenPoxy 33 chosen for Spleene kiteboard range
Flax fiber multiaxial reinforcement plies, a CNC milled wood core and bamboo rail sections are press molded together using Sicomin’s bio-epoxy resin system for an eco-friendly twintip kiteboard production.
Read MoreLingrove secures $10 million in financing to ramp up plant-based ekoa production
New support will enable climate-friendly, high-performance and aesthetically pleasing interiors made from ekoa natural fiber composite surfaces and panels.
Read MoreDumoLab's biodegradable arch enables biocomposite concrete alternatives
Terrene 3.0 is a compression-dominant arch developed as a multidisciplinary research project composed of natural fiber-reinforced sand and other biomaterials that delivers eco-friendly, less energy-intensive building methods.
Read MoreFeatured Posts
Composites end markets: Boatbuilding and marine (2024)
As the marine market corrects after the COVID-19 upswing, the emphasis is on decarbonization and sustainability, automation and new forms of mobility offering opportunity for composites.
WatchBio-based SiC ceramics from wood polymer composites
Austrian research institute Wood K plus makes 95% silicon carbide ceramics more sustainable (>85% bio/recycled content), enables 3D shapes via extrusion, injection molding and 3D printing.
Read MoreDITF Denkendorf advances sustainable carbon fibers, oxide fibers for CMC and more
The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research are targeting more sustainable carbon fiber via low-pressure stabilization and bio-based precursors, and working with Saint-Gobain to commercialize oxide ceramic fibers for CMC.
Read MoreRobotized system makes overmolding mobile, flexible
Anybrid’s ROBIN demonstrates inline/offline functionalization of profiles, 3D-printed panels and bio-based materials for more efficient, sustainable composite parts.
Read MoreNatural 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 MoreDrawing design cues from nature: Designing for biomimetic composites, Part 2
As biomimetic design continues to inform composites manufacturing, technologies like 3D printing, tailored fiber placement, braiding and filament winding prove strong candidates for making these structures a reality.
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