Circular business demonstrations support sustainable, lightweight applications

Diab (Laholm, Sweden) is demonstrating its lightweight, sustainable solutions, the benefits of advanced kits and an upgraded recycled core material portfolio. The company also invites others to discuss circularity and their applications with Diab’s technical experts.

Diab will be presenting and discussing different topics and cases at JEC World’s new Speakers Corner. During the day, experts will touch on the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), how advanced kitting can make applications even lighter, a thermoplastic sidewall’s benefits for cabin interiors and how complex-shaped core parts can benefit subsea applications.

At its booth, Diab is demonstrating Diab Advanced kits with precut foam cores. From a resin uptake point of view, it is close to the performance of a thermoformed kit solution but with much-improved fit and handling performance. According to the company, Advanced kits have fewer curvature cuts and significantly less resin uptake, which means a much-improved mold fit and minimal gaps between each kit part. An intact foam layer closest to the mold prevents printing from curvature cuts, and the high-precision production method ensures minimal gaps between foam parts, minimizing printing.

On display is a wash basin with the Novodecor Core system by Reymansa. It is made from the Divinycell PR range, a sustainable recycled PET foam for various applications. It reduces weight and carbon footprint and improves mechanical performance compared to single-sheet ceramics. The PET foam is covered with a “porcelain sheet,” creating a light sandwich structure with improved strength and flexural properties compared to pure ceramic.

Also on display is Diab’s 100% recyclable thermoplastic panel for aircraft interiors, which won three awards in 2022 — the JEC Innovation Award, the Crystal Cabin Award and the CAMX ACE. In a successful collaboration with Hutchinson, the concept demonstrates technology compliance with typical aerospace customers’ expectations. It also showed all the advantages of a one-step manufacturing process (high production rates, reduced production costs). Divinycell F now comes in wider sheets, providing improved performance on laminate surface finish.

For buoyancy and subsea applications, Diab is demonstrating its low-density, cost-efficient material, which highlights Diab’s 50 years in this industry, and its understanding of strength, buoyancy and insulation to ensure high quality and long service life.