natural fibres and fillers | Innovation
Cross section of an instrument panel interior structure in Faurecia’s foamed Nafilite shows the weight--saving cellular structure
machinery that will eventually process our compound. More than ever before, client specifications include experiential features such as colour, texture and tactility.” Beologic compounds can contain one or more of a
wide range of natural fillers, including wood, bamboo, cork, coconut, flax, sisal, grass, rice husks, sunflower shells, nutshells, cellulose, and cotton.
lar structure of the final material leads to a better perceived quality in terms of robustness and fit and finish, and also presents good thermo-mechanical properties versus standard materials.” Belgian compounder Beologic is also concentrating
Right: An
instrument panel interior structure moulded in
microcellular
foamed Nafilite by Faurecia
efforts on natural fibre reinforced compounds. “Since our start in 2000, our R&D and manufacturing capabili- ties have evolved side by side, so we are now considered market leader in the supply of customised natural and mineral filled compounds,” claims Alex Beyls, Prospect and Sales Manager at the company. “As all our compounds are customised, every
formulation is new,” says Beyls. “We work backwards from the overall specifications of the final product, not just the basic features such as strength and temperature requirements. We probe into what the client wants to achieve with the product. We take into account less obvious parameters such as sales potential, uniqueness, prestige and the
Turning to textiles Vanessa Gutierrez, a researcher in compounding at Spanish technical institute Aimplas, points out that post-industrial waste fibres are also a potential raw material source. She says that among various projects carried out by Aimplas on the use of natural fibres and fillers in polymer matrices is one involving the use of such fibres from the textile sector, including denim and other cotton scraps. “The main consideration taken into account is that
these raw fibres were very bulky and difficult to handle,” she says. “To fix that problem a pelletising process using a suitable binder was carried out. As a result, very easy-to-handle fibre
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