JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 43

Applications Applications for plant fibre/polymer composites in the industrial sector In this article, our intention is to run the rule over the ways in which plant fibres are used in Europe in general and in France in particular, to highlight some of the new uses for plant fibres in industry and to draw some conclusions about the development prospects for these new industrial channels. As for hemp, the annual production of hemp straw in France is estimated at 65,000 MT, which equates to almost 85% of European production, making France Europe's number one producer. This straw production breaks down into 17,500 MT of fibre and 32,500 MT of stalks (Ernst & Young study, 2005). Europe's main producers after France are Germany and the UK. European production of flax and hemp fibres is in competition with the world's major exotic plant fibres such as cotton, jute, ramie, sisal, raffia, etc., and synthetic fibres such as glass or polyamide fibre. HILAIRE BEWA, ENGINEER, DERRME/ADEME BIORESOURCE DEPARTMENT he traditional sectors of application for plant fibres in Europe are the textile and paper industries. Over the last decade or so, the economic context (reduced cost of raw materials) and the environmental context (reducing the impact of industrial products on the environment) have encouraged the emergence of new sectors. Indeed, across the board, plant fibres are increasingly in vogue for their many environmental, technical, economic and health benefits that the various branches of industry could leverage: renewable raw materials, biodegradability and neutral carbon balance, low density, energy efficiency, flexibility, low-cost, reduced or zero allergenic or health incidence for production line workers, etc. In specific applications, the intrinsic characteristics of plant fibres allow manufacturers to obtain materials offering superior technical performance to that of traditional materials. Today, the use of plant fibres is finding particular favour in two main industrial sectors: the automotive and the building industries. T Sunroof frame. The markets for flax and hemp fibres The market for flax fibres depends on the nature of the fibres. These may be distinguished according to length: long fibres (approximately 60 mm) and short fibres (between 30 and 50 mm). Long fibres are used essentially in textile applications. Clothing, household linen and furnishing fabrics account for some 90% of the use of these fibres, with the remaining 10% earmarked for technical usage (sacks, tarpaulins, postbags). As far as short fibres are concerned, 20% are used for textiles (household linen), 60% are used in the paper industry and the rest find their way into the new applications for nonwovens. Depending on the country, the use to which hemp fibres are put will vary. So, for example, in Germany production is essentially intended for technical fibres (nonwovens, insulation wool), whereas France and Spain dedicate their production to the paper industry. Plant fibre production in Europe and in France In Europe, the two main types of fibre produced are flax and hemp. According to an Ernst & Young study carried out in 2005 on behalf of the French energy conservation agency ADEME, France is the world's number one producer of scutched flax (113,000 metric tons (MT) in 2003) and the third behind Russia and China in terms of land use (76,600 ha). France's production, which accounts for ¾ of all European production, endows it with unique potential for this segment of industry. The other European producers of note are Belgium (29,000 MT and 19,250 ha) and the Netherlands (6,900 MT and 4,600 ha). No46 January-February 2009 / jec composites magazine 43

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009