Biofibres Gathers Momentum
Natural fibres, extracted from the stalks of flax and hemp plants, gains attention worldwide as reinforcements in composite parts. The Composites Innovation Centre (CIC) has been coordinating several developmental activities supporting the introduction of natural fibres in bus parts. This program also involves commercializing co-products from the fibre separation process; such as equine / animal bedding and reinforcements for injection moulded farm equipment parts. The majority of this work was reported at an international biofibres workshop that was held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, March 2008. ‘The workshop was a huge success’ said Christine Paquette, CIC’s Director, Biomaterials Initiative, ‘The attendance of 100 participants, including guests and presenters from national and international locations, reinforced the global interest in developing products for a green economy in various types of applications.’ Not only do the fibres provide potential advantages in terms of lighter weight and lower cost, they reflect a growing industrial interest in doing what is right for the environment, as well as economically benefiting local farmers by increasing revenue. With the current program winding down, the CIC is involved with several other local, national and international research, commercialization and industrial partners in implementing new projects that will take these materials through to commercialization. The emphasis is to create a new sustainable industry in Canada. This feat is not easily accomplished and requires a diverse effort that includes;
• selecting plant varieties able to deliver improved fibre properties
• investigating alternate harvesting techniques
• increasing the quality of fibres through improved fibre separation methods
• developing reliable and repeatable fibre testing methods
• producing consistent mat products with fibres that are compatible with thermoset resins
• generating composite material data bases
• manufacturing & testing prototype components that meet end user requirements
• preparing feasibility analyses and business plans to prove out the commercial viability of these new businesses
Future SIG & RRC Training Program
The CIC is continuing to plan its next Special Interest Group (SIG) in the area of Composites in Civil Infrastructure. Meetings have been held with key collaborators including local engineering consulting & restoration companies and ISIS Canada, a network head quartered at the University of Manitoba that promotes the use of composite products in civil infrastructure combined with intelligent sensor technologies. Establishment of the mandate and activities of the SIG are in process and communications describing the events will be forthcoming. The CIC has been collaborating with Red River College, a local technical college, to develop industry orientated training programs for composite open mould laminators, closed mould/liquid resin infusion process operators and mould makers. The resulting programs will be piloted during the next few months and will be available shortly for use by industry. It is also hoped to include some of the contents in regular college programming.
Member’s Corner
The CIC is continuing to plan its next Special Interest Group (SIG) in the area of Composites in Civil Infrastructure. Meetings have been held with key collaborators including local engineering consulting & restoration companies and ISIS Canada, a network head quartered at the University of Manitoba that promotes the use of composite products in civil infrastructure combined with intelligent sensor technologies. Establishment of the mandate and activities of the SIG are in process and communications describing the events will be forthcoming.
The CIC has been collaborating with Red River College, a local technical college, to develop industry orientated training programs for composite open mould laminators, closed mould/liquid resin infusion process operators and mould makers. The resulting programs will be piloted during the next few months and will be available shortly for use by industry. It is also hoped to include some of the contents in regular college programming.