JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #36 - October 2007 - 26

BUSINESS Trends Volcanic-rock continuous fibre: a growing demand Isomatex proposes a novel approach for achieving engineering breakthroughs in the early stages of the mineral-fibre production process. GABRIEL RASSART, CO-FOUNDER TIGRAN VARTANIAN, MANAGING DIRECTOR ISOMATEX Fibre properties In addition to the higher performance of volcanic fibres and their enhanced specific properties (strength, temperature range, IR-ray resistance s fibre-reinforcement markets expand due to diversification, fibre manufacturers are faced with the challenge of meeting a rapidly growing global demand. There is more to be done however, especially in production engineering at a time when the quality of reinforcement fibres (in terms of physical, thermal and electrical properties), timing, and accurate results have become critical. branches of industry: aircraft/aerospace, automotive, civil, road & underground construction, engineering (pipeworks), corrosion-resistant equipment, marine, environmental safety and defence, naval construction, insulation, etc. An innovation is a creative technology harnessed to high-tech process equipment with outstanding features, generating a product with properties that are superior to existing ones. One of the best ways for fibre manufacturers to ensure profitability in the current environment is to promote innovation through the use of advanced applications and techniques and, consequently, to improve the efficiency of their operations. Moreover, to enhance the main properties of lightweight advanced fibre-reinforced composite products in any field of application, the right choice of coated sizing agents in the fibre forming stage is decisive. Therefore, a development contract was concluded with a highly specialised European research centre in order to evaluate the relationship between matrices and fibre reinforcement for industrial sectors like: automotive, where the vibration and noise in vehicles are major concerns; aircraft structures, where improved strength and stiffness are required and should be continuously improved; or concrete applications, where a modified sizing is required which, although it is slightly tacky, becomes well and quickly impregnated with resin. New plant Isomatex recently commissioned a new upscaled manufacturing plant for volcanic-rock continuous fibre. The new factory is currently under construction in the Crealys Scientific Park close to Namur in the heart of the Walloon region, and will be a sophisticated one. It will comply with all required IPPC (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control) rules and the relevant European directives. Full-scale production, which is expected to start before the end of this year, will need to be perfectly suited to the production of enhanced and blended basalt products in order to comply with the Best Available Techniques (BAT) concept. Significant R&D and engineering investments were made in order to focus on precisely controlled equipment to improve the stretched-fibre quality, and to increase the output capacity by controlling processing costs. New upscaled manufacturing plant and durability), which gives them the potential to replace S2-glass fibres cost-effectively, this new product has revealed a superior elasticity (high tensile modulus, or “Young’s Modulus”) and is a flawless substitute for aramid- and carbon-fibre products in many applications. Volcanic rock filaments are completely inert, with no environmental risks, and can easily be used with different types of technical plastics and resins. They satisfy the requirements of the high-performance segment of the global market for reinforced materials for composite products, and can be used in various JEC Composites Magazine / No36 October - November 2007
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #36 - October 2007

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #36 - October 2007
