Aluula features recycle-ready composites in wind sports application
A patented fusion technology and proprietary X weave design enhance the light weight, strength and reliability of the Aeris and Aeris X materials, which make their first debut on Ocean Radio’s Glide AA-Series sports wing.
Aeris X composite material. Photo Credit, all images: Aluula Composites
Advanced materials technology firm Aluula Composites (Victoria, B.C., Canada) partners with wind sport brand Ocean Rodeo (Victoria) to introduce a new generation of high-performance materials to its line of ultralight, strong and recycle-ready composite materials: Aeris and Aeris X.
Aluula Composites uses a patented fusion technology to bond technical films to an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) core for its Aeris fabrics, resulting in fabrics that are said to deliver high performance results. This “process, rather than a product” enables the company a wide range of iterations to meet a broad range of applications.
Building upon this, Aeris X introduces a proprietary X weave to the layup that adds additional reinforcement on the bias, leading to a six-times-higher bias strength, high durability, improved UV resistance and six times the tear resistance when compared to competing canopy and sail fabrics. These materials are made entirely from a single polymer, Aluula notes, and therefore are recycle-ready.
Glide AA-Series wing.
Ocean Rodeo is the first to debut Aeris & Aeris X materials to the wind sports market through the development of the all-Aluula Composite wind sport wing, the Glide AA-Series, featuring an Aeris & Aeris X airframe and a full Aeris X canopy.
In addition to those benefits mentioned above, the Aeris X Canopy:
- Is up to 40% lighter when compared to competing canopy and sail fabrics.
- Enhances durability and stiffness for extended wind range.
- Radial cut canopy panel layout provides optimized load distribution and maximum resistance to stretch.
- Factory-treated with Dynamic Shape Retention micro-creases, ensuring the airfoil retains its original designed shape for the life of the wing.
- After 1,000 hours of simulated UV exposure, Aeris X is reported to be 7.5 times stronger than competing materials.
The Aeris & Aeris X Airframe:
- Lighter than nylon, polyester and aramid, with eight times the strength-to-weight ratio of steel.
- High strength, lightness and durability further extend the wind range.
- High structural stiffness when inflated offers increased stability, predictable control and instantaneous response in all conditions.
- Improved durability, tear and UV resistance, ensuring a long-lasting product.
Field-tested in the demanding coastal waters of British Columbia, Canada, Ocean Rodeo’s Glide AA-Series Wing has proven the materials’ resilience and reliability. “The introduction of the Glide AA-Series wing and new Aluula materials has raised the bar for wind sport performance enhancements, while simultaneously introducing a much-needed greener trajectory for the future with industry first recycle-ready materials,” Ocean Rodeo head of design, Ross Harrington, notes.
