Natural Fibers for Composites

Natural fibers are gaining prominence as eco-friendly alternatives for reinforcing composite materials, offering renewable and biodegradable options. Derived from sources like jute, hemp, flax, and bamboo, these fibers are appreciated for their low cost, lightweight nature, and reduced environmental impact compared to traditional reinforcements. Natural fiber composites exhibit respectable strength and stiffness, often used in applications where their unique properties, such as vibration damping or acoustic insulation, are advantageous.

JEC World 2024 highlights: Glass fiber recycling, biocomposites and more
Lifecycle Analysis

JEC World 2024 highlights: Glass fiber recycling, biocomposites and more

CW technical editor Hannah Mason discusses trends seen at this year’s JEC World trade show, including sustainability-focused technologies and commitments, the Paris Olympics amongst other topics.

READ MORE
Airtech
Coast-Line Intl

Latest Natural Fibers Articles

VIEW ALL
Automotive

Bcomp closes $40 million Series C funding to accelerate flax fiber adoption

New funding round supports enhanced production capacity, commercial automotive opportunities and new market support for flax fiber-based composite solutions.

Read More
Natural Fibers

Scale Advanced Composites natural fibers target cycling industry

Bio|Power and Cor|Power composite reinforcements aim to reduce materials costs and greenhouse emissions while enhancing performance.

Read More
Natural Fibers

Flax fiber-based technologies target application diversity

JEC World 2024: Bcomp continues the tradition of exhibiting components from diverse markets, including motorsport, wider mobility and performance sports equipment, that incorporate ampliTex and powerRibs fibers.

Read More
Carbon Fibers

Optimizing machining for composites: Tool designs, processes and Industry 4.0 systems

Hufschmied moves beyond optimized milling and drilling tools to develop SonicShark inline quality control system and Cutting Edge World cloud platform for optimized tool use and processes.

Watch
Natural Fibers

SUSPENS project shares one-year progress, next steps

European project dedicated its first year to sustainable materials development and prototype manufacture, looks to validating performance.

Watch
Sustainability

European boatbuilders lead quest to build recyclable composite boats

Marine industry constituents are looking to take composite use one step further with the production of tough and recyclable recreational boats. Some are using new infusible thermoplastic resins.

Read More

Knowledge Centers

Sustainability
Sustainability

The composites industry is increasingly recognizing the imperative of sustainability in its operations. As demand for lightweight and durable materials rises across various sectors, such as automotive, aerospace, and construction, there is a growing awareness of the environmental impact associated with traditional composite manufacturing processes.

LEARN MORE
Chem Trend
3D industrial laser projection
Harper International Carbon Fiber
CompositesWorld
Chem Trend

Latest Natural Fibers News And Updates

Consumer

Ekbacken Studios furniture incorporates Sulapac wood composites

High-end design furniture is 3D printed from bio-based, eco-friendly materials for aesthetic and sustainable home product options.

Read More
Natural Fibers

Sulapac introduces Sulapac Flow 1.7 to replace PLA, ABS and PP in FDM, FGF

Available as filament and granules for extrusion, new wood composite matches properties yet is compostable, eliminates microplastics and reduces carbon footprint.

Read More
JEC

Natural fiber composite activities highlighted through comprehensive database, event displays

JEC World 2024: The Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp is hosting an extended Natural Fibre Village, in addition to its latest work with the ecoinvent materials database and a conference session.

Read More
Natural Fibers

Kordsa to work with Bpreg to expand biocomposite capabilities

Kordsa concludes significant investment aimed at further enhancing its expertise in composites technologies, including development and distribution of more sustainable fiber options to customers.

Read More
Natural Fibers

Flax fiber composite innovations, circularity services

JEC World 2024: Flax fiber producer Groupe Depestele and sustainable composites company Greenboats demonstrate flax fiber materials, demonstrators and product offer Circular Structures.

Watch
Natural Fibers

Sicomin GreenPoxy 33 chosen for Spleene kiteboard range

Flax fiber multiaxial reinforcement plies, a CNC milled wood core and bamboo rail sections are press molded together using Sicomin’s bio-epoxy resin system for an eco-friendly twintip kiteboard production.

Read More
CompositesWorld
pro-set epoxy laminate infusion tool high temp Tg
Thermwood Corp.
Carbon Fiber 2024
Airtech International Inc.

Featured Posts

Automation

Composites end markets: Boatbuilding and marine (2024)

As the marine market corrects after the COVID-19 upswing, the emphasis is on decarbonization and sustainability, automation and new forms of mobility offering opportunity for composites.

Watch
Natural Fibers

Bio-based SiC ceramics from wood polymer composites

Austrian research institute Wood K plus makes 95% silicon carbide ceramics more sustainable (>85% bio/recycled content), enables 3D shapes via extrusion, injection molding and 3D printing.

Read More
Carbon Fibers

DITF Denkendorf advances sustainable carbon fibers, oxide fibers for CMC and more

The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research are targeting more sustainable carbon fiber via low-pressure stabilization and bio-based precursors, and working with Saint-Gobain to commercialize oxide ceramic fibers for CMC.

Read More
Pultrusion

Robotized system makes overmolding mobile, flexible

Anybrid’s ROBIN demonstrates inline/offline functionalization of profiles, 3D-printed panels and bio-based materials for more efficient, sustainable composite parts.

Read More
Sustainability

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.

Read More
Natural Fibers

Drawing design cues from nature: Designing for biomimetic composites, Part 2

As biomimetic design continues to inform composites manufacturing, technologies like 3D printing, tailored fiber placement, braiding and filament winding prove strong candidates for making these structures a reality.  

Read More
KraussMaffei Metering Systems
HEATCON Composite Systems
Airtech
CAMX 2024
Airtech International Inc.