Lightweight, firm, sustainable: Flax tape by vombaur

^{30 November 2020}

Flax for Composites

Woven tapes made of natural fibres by vombaur

Flax has accompanied people for thousands of years, in linen fabrics, in ropes, as insulation material. And until the present day. With woven tapes made of flax, we at vombaur make the functional and ecological advantages of natural fibres available for lightweight design.

Lightweight and firm

Flax fibres are particularly rigid and tear-proof. Textiles made of the natural material therefore give natural fibre reinforced plastics (NFPs) special stability. Additionally, flax has a low density. The components thus combine high rigidity and strength with low weight. Another functional plus: natural fibre-reinforced plastics are less prone to splintering than glass fibre reinforced plastics.

Flax

Sustainable material

The cultivation of flax binds CO₂ and the production of NFP generates 33 percent lower CO₂ emissions than conventional fibre reinforced plastics. The energy consumption is 40 percent lower. This reduces production costs and improves the material's CO₂ footprint. Punch-packing arguments for natural fibre tapes – like our flax tape – in lightweight design applications.

Circular Economy

Circular Economy – this also works in lightweight design. The number of recycling cycles without loss of quality is higher for natural fibre reinforced plastics than for glass or carbon fibre reinforced plastics: the thermoplastic matrix of the composite can be melted and recycled after a product life cycle. The natural fibres can "live on" in other products – injection moulded products for example.

Versatile applications

"Composites from our flax tapes are used to reinforce high-tech skis as well as for extruding state-of-the-art window sections – the applications are countless," explains Sales Manager Tomislav Josipovic. "As a development partner, we support applications for the automotive, wind energy, construction, sports and many other industries with our composite textiles."