JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #146 - June/July 2022 - 79

R&D
FLOWER PROJECT DEVELOPS COST-EFFECTIVE FLAX REINFORCEMENTS FOR COMPOSITES
Led by the University of South Brittany, the FLOWER (Flax composites, Low Weight, End-of-Life and Recycling)
project brings together three additional academic partners (INRA in Nantes, University of Cambridge and University
of Portsmouth) and four industrial partners (Kaïros, Teillage Vandecandelaère, EcoTechnilin and Howa-Tramico)
located on both sides of the English Channel. The project team spans the entire value chain and aims to develop
two cost-effective reinforcement formats for industrial applications - flax non-wovens and stitched multiaxial biax
fabrics. Two FLOWER project partners submitted 2022 JEC Innovation Award applications, with Kaïros winning
a prestigious Innovation Award for its Kairlin point-of-sale demonstrator and Howa-Tramico being selected as an
awards finalist for its lightweight automotive headliner. www.flower-project.eu
©flower Projetct
PRODUCTION
COMPOSITADOUR: AFP ROBOTIC
LAY-UP OF FLAX EPOXY PREPREG
©
Ecotechnilin
Low-density, cost-effective unidirectional
flax materials from EcoTechnilin were
selected for a novel process developed
by Compositadour that used automated
fibre placement (AFP) to lay-up a thermal
insulation panel intended to protect composite structures in space
applications.
Working within the framework of the CAULIBRI project, and financially
supported by the Rapid programme of the French Directorate General of
Armaments (DGA), the project partners developed a mature technology
for end-user Ariane Group. An out-of-autoclave epoxy matrix was used
to prepreg the dry flax UD that was then slit to create an AFP-ready
product with optimised fibre alignment. The new materials and process
can contribute towards meeting environmental requirements and cost
reduction targets in space launcher thermal insulation components.
www.compositadour.com/ www.ecotechnilin.com
www.ariane.group / www.defense.gouv.fr/dga
©Nobrak
NOBRAK TAILORED FIBRE
PLACEMENT
WITH NATURAL FIBRES
French tailored fibre placement (TFP)
technology and equipment specialist
NOBRAK highlighted a range of TFP
solutions and components at JEC
World 2022. Presenting its expertise in
TFP preform production and component manufacturing, the
company featured a variety of dry flax fibres and co-mingled
flax and thermoplastic materials in its latest offerings. Via its
proprietary high-volume process, HV-TFP, NOBRAK focuses
on rapid, zero-waste production of preforms for industrial-rate
manufacturing of composite parts and has now integrated
natural fibre options for its customers. Working alongside flax
fibre specialists such as Depestele and DEMGY, the company
strives
to optimize lay-up costs while ensuring perfect
reproducibility from prototype to large series production.
www.nobrak.com /
www.groupedepestele.com / www.demgy.com
APPLICATION
A SUSTAINABLE, RECYCLABLE SERIES-PRODUCED SAILING DINGHY
BY NORTHERN LIGHT COMPOSITES AND BCOMP
The new ecoOptimist dinghy aims to bring fully-recyclable natural fibre composite technology
to a series-produced sailing dinghy for sailing schools and young sailors. Based on the classic
Optimist design, the new craft combines Bcomp's ampliTex™ biaxial and twill weave flax
reinforcements, Arkema's Elium thermoplastic resin and a recycled core from NMG Europe,
resulting in a significantly reduced CO2
footprint versus a traditional glass fibre boat. All the
ecoOptimist materials were selected to match the structural performance of existing Optimist
class dinghies. The ecoOptimist concept confirms that Bcomp's flax fibre composite solutions
©
© NLcomp(TM)
NL Comp are not only suited for high-end projects and one-offs but also for commercial and higher volume applications. In addition,
all the materials used can be recovered at the end of the boat's life and re-purposed rather than going to landfill.
www.bcomp.ch / www.northernlightcomposites.com / www.arkema.com / www.nmgeurope.com
N°146 June - July 2022 / jec composites magazine
79
REVIEW

http://www.flower-project.eu http://www.compositadour.com/ http://www.ecotechnilin.com http://www.nobrak.com http://www.ariane.group http://www.defense.gouv.fr/dga http://www.groupedepestele.com http://www.demgy.com http://www.bcomp.ch http://www.northernlightcomposites.com http://www.arkema.com http://www.nmgeurope.com

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #146 - June/July 2022

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