BIOMATERIALS

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.

Hannah Mason
Technical Editor, CompositesWorld

Natural Fibers

INCA secures $40 million funding commitment for biocomposites development

INCA Renewable Technologies targets commercialization of hemp-based biocomposites line for automotive, wind, marine industries, moves forward with processing facility construction.

Aerospace

ELIOT Project finds solvolysis best method for aerospace biocomposites recycling

AIMPLAS and TNO study analyzed 12 methods for six different biocomposites. Solvolysis and pyrolysis proved the two most promising alternatives tested in large-scale production at a pilot plant.

Injection/Overmolding

German consortium develops biopolymer-based Cellun composite

German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research (DITF) and partners present a conventional composite material alternative using cellulose that can be processed using industrial processing methods.

Carbon Fibers

DITF develops water-spun lignin fibers as PAN precursor alternative

Lignin fibers produced via an aqueous solution and dry spinning process result in homogeneous, smooth-surfaced fibers that are more environmentally friendly and cost-saving.

Epoxies

JEC World 2023 preview: Sicomin

Sicomin celebrates 40 yars at JEC World with the launch of two novel GreenPoxy products and an informal drink reception at its booth.

Fiber Institute Bremen develops high-strength PLA biopolymers

Novel PLA blend is proven on pilot plant scale for technical textile applications like aerospace, medical or automotive engineering.

Testing

Thermoset-thermoplastic joining, natural fibers enable sustainability-focused brake cover

Award-winning motorcycle brake disc cover showcases potential for KTM Technologies’ Conexus joining technology and flax fiber composites.

Hannah Mason
Technical Editor, CompositesWorld

Natural Fibers

INCA Renewtech awarded $10 million to invest in commercial biocomposites facility

Under Alberta’s Circular Economy Projects, INCA will construct and operate a facility for processing and manufacturing waste hemp into BioPlastics and Biocore composite materials for wide industry use.

Natural Fibers

European SUSPENS project targets green composites production

The 13-partner program will addresses the challenge of reducing the environmental footprint of sandwich and hollow composite structures via bio-sourced resins and carbon fiber precursors.

Sicomin celebrates 40-year anniversary

Expanded operations, customer application highlights and newly launched GreenPoxy products at this year’s events serve to honor the company’s 40 years in the composites industry.

SPE ANTEC 2023 technical program to feature plastics, composites tracks

March 2023 event in Denver Colorado features 18 tracks with more than 115 sessions which include biocomposites, composites, additive manufacturing and a variety of plastics presentations.

Materials

New research developments identify new methods for bio-derived carbon filler reinforcement for biocomposites

Sustainable methodologies employed by researchers from Tuskegee University enable the synthesis of carbon from biomass-based precursor materials, and its effective reinforcement in composites.

Materials

National Composites Centre participates in Horizon Europe GREEN-LOOP project

Research-intensive 17-partner innovation project will develop new sustainable and circular strategies with novel bio-based products using rubber, bioplastics and wood composites.

Materials

Drawing design cues from nature: Designing for biomimetic composites, Part 1

Biomimicry is an interdisciplinary methodology that can inform composites design and manufacturing via use of more effective and sustainable materials, structural fabrication and technological practices.

Grace Nehls
Managing Editor, CompositesWorld

Natural Fibers

Super Formula, Bcomp announce sustainable fiber composite bodywork

Japan’s premiere single-seater race series confirms hybrid composite parts for SF23 chassis as part of Next 50 plan.

Thermoplastics

SeaBioComp project develops biocomposite demonstrator products for marine applications

Prototype products explore thermoplastic polymers, natural fibers and 3D printing technologies to effectively reduce the use of fossil-based materials in the marine sector.

Construction

University of Maine unveils 100% bio-based 3D-printed home

BioHome3D, made of wood fibers and bioresins and entirely 3D printed, highlights Maine’s effort to address the need for more affordable housing.

Materials

Bio-Sep propels sustainable composites development via forestry-produced biochemicals

Joint industry project with iCAST, NCC and University of Bath to produce and test bio-based composites from cellulose and lignin sawdust, replace fossil-derived ingredients.

Natural Fibers

Helicoid Industries releases three use cases of Helicoid technology

Use case applications with Helicoid technology implementation demonstrated mechanical performance improvements, such as impact resistance and strength.

Design/Simulation

Grand Largue Composites, Sicomin enable flax fiber-built Class40 racing yacht

Fibers, fabrics, epoxy resins and adhesives from Sicomin helped realize the lightweight, strong and stiff Crosscall yacht, capable of tackling extreme ocean racing conditions.

RTM

Digitizing tools for composites production

Alpex Technologies focuses on industrialization, process and part intelligence and biocomposites in its next generation of tooling systems.

Ginger Gardiner
Senior Technical Editor, CompositesWorld

Mass Transit

KTM Technologies motorsport component earns SPE Automotive Award

Brake disc protection comprises a balance of flax fibers and bio-based polyamides for almost 70% savings in CO2, improved recycling properties.

Materials

National Composites Centre wild water champion spearheads project for U.K.’s first sustainable kayak

A wild water kayak, made from composite materials and manufactured using Recyclamine technology, presents new solutions for sustainability and a challenge for graduate engineering team.

Energy Storage

Materials & Processes: Fibers for composites

The structural properties of composite materials are derived primarily from the fiber reinforcement. Fiber types, their manufacture, their uses and the end-market applications in which they find most use are described.

Energy Storage

Materials & Processes: Composites fibers and resins

Compared to legacy materials like steel, aluminum, iron and titanium, composites are still coming of age, and only just now are being better understood by design and manufacturing engineers. However, composites’ physical properties — combined with unbeatable light weight — make them undeniably attractive.

Consumer

Materials & Processes: Resin matrices for composites

The matrix binds the fiber reinforcement, gives the composite component its shape and determines its surface quality. A composite matrix may be a polymer, ceramic, metal or carbon. Here’s a guide to selection.

Natural Fibers

Lufthansa Technik, Diab develop greener composites for interior cabin components

Aeroflax flax fiber-based prepreg and one-step thermoplastic manufacturing process for 100% recyclable panels production pioneer lighter weight, reduce CO2 emissions.

View All biomaterials Articles