Sports powered by natural flax fibres

The Alliance for European Flax-Linen and Hemp, previously known as CELC, has reported an increasing adoption of flax fibres in composites for sporting goods applications this summer, exploiting the fibre’s excellent vibration damping properties.

Many end users took to the court this summer with flax reinforced tennis, padel and pickleball racquets from brands including adidas, Babolat and Revolin. Alternatively they headed out on the water with lower impact European flax boards, canoes, kayak or paddles from manufacturers such as Notox, Predn Surf, and Melker.

A key example, Babolat, (Lyon, France), recently incorporated a new technology called NF2-Tech into its latest range of Pure Aero racquets.

NF2-Tech – natural flax filtration technology – is a flax fibre insert developed with EcoTechnilin, of Valliquerville, France, which has been incorporated into the handle and sections of the #racquet heads to dampen #vibrations and deliver optimised #acoustics with a much softer sound. This results in an enhanced feeling as a player strikes the ball.

Carlos Alcaraz claimed the 2023 Wimbledon Men’s Final using his signature Babolat Pure Aero 98. Founded in 1875, Babolat has also supplied racquets to many other all-time great tennis champions including René Lacoste, Arthur Ashe, Björn Borg and Rafa Nadal.

The adidas Metalbone Greenpadel padel #racquet similarly incorporates Bcomp ampliTex flax fibres – as an alternative to typically used carbon and glass fibres – to provide a new level of performance thanks to the outstanding vibration damping they provide.

Winter sports

Flax fibres are also making inroads into #wintersports. Zag Skis, based in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France, has also collaborated with Bcomp and uses ampliTex flax fibre composite reinforcements across its Slap collection. The company says the flax fibres ensure a smoother ride and provide 250% higher vibration damping than carbon fibres for even the most demanding freeride #skiers.

Also applying #flax to its latest generation #equipment, Rome Snowboards, headquartered in Waterbury, Vermont, is working with EcoTechnilin to integrate flax textile reinforcements into the impact plates and side walls of its boards. The low-density #fibres have been shown to improve durability, rigidity and stability without impacting the crucial ‘feel’ of the board.

Source:www.allianceflaxlinenhemp.eu/jeccomposites

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Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:Carbon-Carbon composites

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Have a look at this beautiful microscopy! 

This scanning electron microscope image shows a carbon-carbon composite composed of carbon fibers (in blue) and silicon carbide (in brown)! 

Besides high mass-specific properties and high thermal stability, functional properties like low thermal expansion and good tribological behavior play increasing importance for commercial applications of carbon-carbon composites. Originally developed for space and military applications, nowadays this class of materials is mainly used in brake discs and pads, clutches, calibration plates, or furnace charging devices! 

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#composites #materialscience #carbonfibers #lightweight #reinforcedplastics

Solvay Launches New PPS Grades Produced with Recycled GlassFibers

Solvay has announced the introduction of two new Ryton® #polyphenylenesulfide (PPS) grades as part of the company’s growing range of Supreme polymers targeting significant performance leaps in electrification.

Ryton® Supreme HV and HF are specifically developed to make drivers’ lives easier with shorter charging times and greater driving ranges.

Superior Heat Resistance with UL94 V0 Flammability Ratings:

“OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers in #automotive are constantly seeking ways to improve safety, reliability and sustainability without compromising system cost efficiency,” says Brian Baleno, head of Automotive Marketing at Solvay Materials. “We constantly work with our customers to find solutions to their challenges, leveraging the potential of our materials portfolio and our expertise to bring new innovations to life”.

As a high-voltage #PPS material, Ryton® Supreme HV combines a comparative tracking index (CTI) of 600 V for best-in-class electrical performance and electric thermal index (RTI) >175°C for superior heat resistance with UL94 V0 #flammability ratings. This property provides a step-change towards safer and more reliable components in #powerelectronics, such as housings and chip carriers.

Ryton® Supreme HF offers high #mechanicalstrength and excellent flowability for 0.3 mm thin-wall components. It can make a significant contribution to miniaturization and package optimization. Target applications include #bobbins for stators and insulators, where lower wall-thicknesses reduce the temperature of coils and facilitate reliable #thermal management.

The new Ryton® PPS Supreme materials will be on display at #Solvay’s Booth 4213 in Hall B4 during the Fakuma show in Friedrichshafen, Germany. The experts will appear at the Exhibitor Forum on October 17 at 11:40 hours, presenting ‘The Supreme range: designed to meet e-mobility challenges and make drivers’ lives easier’.

Source: Solvay/specialchem

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#polymers #plasticindustry #automotive #electrical

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:Plastic Implants:

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Plastic Implants:

Interesting article which covers the deterioration of using Ti alloy for orthopaedic implants over the period of time due to corrosion and not achievable biocompatibility with the surrounding tissues in the body.

For the betterment of the people life,the plastic based bone,hip and knee etc

that gives very good biocompatibility when compared to Ti based parts.

3D printing Additive manufacturing is going to play a vital role in the plastic orthopaedic implants in the coming days.A lot of research is carried out with various combinations of the plastic materials to meet the required mechanical such as tensile strength,compressive strength,elongation at break and antibacterial properties etc.

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#3dprinting #additivemanufacturing #plasticimplants #biomedical #orthopaedic

Source:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02670836.2023.2230417

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:Sauber Technologies 3D printing

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

3D Printing Quality Test: How Sauber Technologies AG Benefits From a Vibrophore 100

In motorsports, Formula 1 is generally regarded as the premier class: next to the quality of the driver, technology and materials also determine success on the track. To test the latter, as well as offer customers in other industries and with different applications the highest level of quality—Sauber Technologies AG uses a ZwickRoell Vibrophore 100 in the area of additive manufacturing and light weight construction. This machine provides support within the scope of material development with tests on 3D printed components—not only for #Formula1racecars. But always with one common goal: to maintain pole position.

The Sauber Group with headquarters in Hinwil, Switzerland, specializes in the development and production of race cars and high-performance vehicle components. Founded in 1970, the company was initially entirely devoted to motorsports. Since 2015, one division of the Sauber Group has been focusing on developing technologies and solutions for different industries under the Sauber Technologies brand. These include the automotive Industry, aerospace, energy and medical engineering, and in addition offers engineering and consulting services. #SauberTechnologies is also an important supplier of components for different industry sectors.

“Quality and fatigue strength monitoring are essential criteria when it comes to serious #additivemanufacturing at its highest level.

Determining the effects of hot isostatic pressing (HIP process)

The determination of material properties of specimens in terms of durability and fatigue strength along with traceable documentation of the results present the main challenges in the Sauber Technologies AG testing lab. “For material development and quality testing in 3D printing, the process parameters in the downstream HIP process play an important role for us: HIP stands for hot isostatic pressing and is used in the context of #3Dprinting as a method for post-processing printed parts. For example, 3D printed parts can be porous or have microscopic cracks, which can sometimes affect their strength and durability. The HIP process can eliminate these defects by exposing the printed part to high pressure and high temperatures. The process starts by placing the printed part in a special chamber filled with a gaseous pressurized medium such as argon or nitrogen. The chamber is then heated up to a very high temperature and increased to a very high pressure. This combination of pressure and heat evenly compresses the material of the printed part, sealing porous areas and cracks. With the HIP process, printed parts can reach a higher density and strength, which makes them appealing for use in challenging applications in the aerospace, medical and automotive industry.

Images: Copyright Sauber Technologies AG

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Braskem takes polypropylene to the next level of performance in partnership with WEAV3D® utilizing its rebar for Plastics® lattice technology

Braskem, a polyolefins producer in the Americas as well as a market leader and pioneer producer of biopolymers on an industrial scale, announced a novel demonstrator of Braskem’s polypropylene (PP) in combination with WEAV3D Inc., an advanced manufacturing and materials startup, leveraging WEAV3D’s thermoplastic composite lattice technology to enhance the performance of PP for structural and automotive material applications.

The WEAV3D lattice technology enables lightweight PP parts to replace materials like steel, increasing PP’s use in automotive applications by balancing improvements in performance, weight, and cost. The combination of Braskem PP sheets with WEAV3D’s Rebar for #Plastics will allow Braskem to compete in new structural material end-markets.

“We’re excited to offer our clients new innovations and partnerships around high-performance polypropylene materials utilizing the WEAV3D lattice technology. As the automotive industry continues to roll out new electric vehicle designs, it requires automakers to re-think the vehicle design with cutting-edge performance materials. With significant improvements in lightweighting, reduced costs, and higher material efficiency, combining Braskem’s PP portfolio with #WEAV3D #composite lattices provides a ‘win-win’ in terms of enhanced material performance and a more sustainable environmental impact, including the integration of natural fiber options,” Amanda Zani, Technology Platform Manager, Braskem.

Benefits of using WEAV3D’s Rebar for Plastics® and Braskem Polypropylene vs. conventional composite organosheet:

Lightweight: Reduces sheet blank weight by ~50% and final part weight by ~20% 

Cost effective: Reduces costs by ~50%

Efficient: Increases sheet yield from 25% to 45% by weight, resulting in a 63% reduction in trim waste.

“Braskem has been a fantastic partner throughout this project and really demonstrated a strong commitment to #sustainablematerials innovation,” says Chris Oberste, President of WEAV3D. “Leveraging #Braskem’s diverse polypropylene portfolio and deep technical expertise, we worked collaboratively with the Braskem team to identify the right combination of Braskem #PP and reinforcing lattice material in order to minimize cost and maximize performance, while achieving formability and sustainability goals.”

Relative to the CF/PA6 organosheet baseline, WEAV3D lattice optimization:

• Reduces part weight by 20%

• Reduces cost by 50%

• Increases trim yield from 25 wt% to 45 wt%

• Reduce trim waste by 63%

WEAV3D lattice reinforced panels can meet or exceed the performance of sheet metal:

• 1.8x bending stiffness vs. 20 gauge SS

• 3.1x maximum bending load

• 2x bending energy absorption

• 65% reduction in weight

Source:Braskem/jeccomposites

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Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:Clamping Force

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

So, while molding a large area part with an amorphous polymer, you are experiencing clamp excess during fill..

You cannot change the part design, so your first reaction is to enlarge the sprue to reduce total pressure.

Force=Pressure X area after all..

In fact, you should do the opposite.

A lower diameter sprue will indeed increase total pressure to fill. But the higher shear heating in the runner, combined with high temperature dependence of viscosity in amorphous polymers will result in a lower viscosity material entering the cavity. Projected area of the runner is negligible, so a thinner sprue will reduce the maximum clamp tonnage needed to fill ! Despite total pressure being higher.

And no increased risk of material degradation, since you keep the barrel at a safe temperature.

Source:Vito leo

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#plastics #amorphouspolymers #injectionmolding #plasticparts #plasticindustry #clampforce