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Composites

AIMPLAS develops new composites reinforced with genetically selected flax

As part of the process, several flax crops have been bred during 2012 and 2013 for their analysis and selection, in collaboration with other centres.

4th June 2015

Innovation in Textiles
 |  Paterna

Sustainable, Industrial

AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre, has completed a research that was part of the project FIBRAGEN in order to develop a new generation of composites reinforced with natural fibres of improved properties.

As part of the process, several flax crops have been bred during 2012 and 2013 for their analysis and selection, in collaboration with other centres and European universities.

Different varieties of flax were used for breeding. Researchers have kept in mind some aspects, such as the place, the land, the season of the year, the moisture and the temperature, in order to analyze if these variables affect the properties of the plants and at the same time to select those, which present better mechanical properties.

Benefits and application

The project, which began in 2011 and ended in May, is said to allow abandoning several techniques used until now in order to improve the natural fibres’ properties used as a reinforcement of composites.

For instance, the use of additives and processes could be avoided, including those used when removing moisture. This, according to AMPLIAS, can become possible once the parameters that most influence the process of obtaining optimal fibres as reinforcements are identified.

In addition, the analysis of the crop conditions and parameters enable researchers to stimulate the plants’ gene expression that leads to an improvement of certain properties, such as mechanical, thermal, bacteria and microorganisms resistance, adhesion, and more. This is a step towards composing materials with more controlled properties and less variability.

Participation

The participation of AIMPLAS in the project has mainly consisted of the adaptation of the different varieties of flax harvested for processing in the correspondent composites and also in the analysis of the mechanical properties of the products that include these flax fibres as reinforcement.

The results obtained in this project were positive and confirmed the need to carry on the second stage of the project.

AIMPLAS

AIMPLAS research and technology centre is located in Spain, and the centre has more than 20 years of experience in offering solutions to companies of the plastics industry, including manufacturers of raw materials, processors and end users.

Its service consists of the development of integral and customised solutions by coordinating and developing R&D projects, providing technical assistance, analysis and testing, competitive intelligence and training.

www.aimplas.net

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