Natural Fibers
Natural Fibers Composite Fabrication
Typical natural fibers used in BioComposites :
Kenaf
Hemp
Flax
Oil Palm
Pineapple
Natural Fibers
Why is natural fiber composites the way of the future?
Natural fiber reinforced polymers (NFRP) are a composite material consisting of a polymer matrix embedded with high-strength natural fibers as mentioned above. This enables fabrication of BioComposites that reduce the amount of synthetic fibers used in the composite products by replacing it with abundant natural waste (fibers).
Eco-friendly
Natural fibers are a renewable source of material.
Mechanical Properties
Posses good relative mechanical properties such as tensile modulus and flexural modulus.
Eliminates Waste
Natural fibers are recyclable and bio-degrable.
Abundance
Natural fibers are abundant in the environment and typically gone to waste.
Current Development
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
We at Midwest Composites are currently researching and experimenting with natural fibers to convert them into high-quality BioComposites product as efficient as possible. The pictures above are of the Unmanned Aerial vehicle (UAV) body that was made with a combination of kenaf and palm oil fibers through the Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) process that provides the aesthetic finish of the natural fibers coupled with the strength-to-weight ratio that composite products offer.
Natural Fiber Table
The table in the image above is made using locally sourced kenaf fibers. The kenaf fiber helps reduce the amount of synthetic fiber such as glass, carbon and aramid to be used in the final product whilst producing an eye-pleasing and natural finish for the table.
The Obstacles
Although natural fibers can be really beneficial to ensure a green and sustainable planet, there are some obstacles standing in its way.
Lack of Expertise
There is a major lack of experts actively developing this technology in the country.
High Cost
The process to convert raw material to fiber mats is costly.
Seasonal Fluctuations
Crops cultivated for natural fiber production may vary in quality due to seasonal fluctuations that you won't typically get with synthetic fibers.
Lack of Awareness
The majority of people are not aware of natural fibers. Thus, halting the growth of the industry.
There's great news!
Our team of composites experts are dedicated to ensure this technology can be a viable option for the mass consumer base in the near future.
In addition to that, we have partnered together with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to put our innovative minds together to develop this technology sooner.
Find this interesting
Are you interested in working with us to make this dream a reality? Together we can ensure a greener and sustainable form of manufacturing. Get in touch with us now!