JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #97 - Special JEC Americas - May/June 2015 - 34

natural fibres

European flax/linen & hemp fibres: advanced
natural materials for the composite industry

By
Julie pariset
tecHnical section manager
european conFederation oF Flax and Hemp - celc

uropean flax and hemp are innovation fibres, and they are developing
well beyond their traditional areas of
textile application for clothing and interior
decoration. Their mechanical performance
reinforces the validity of their place in
the market for composite applications in
a broad range of industrial sectors, from
leisure to aerospace.
The European flax and hemp industry is
united under the banner of the European
Confederation of Flax and Hemp (CELC)
for the 2015 JEC Americas trade show,
relying on its organizational structure to
promote the performance of its fibres, well
beyond its home continent.

A structured European industry in
tune with industrial expectations
Europe is the world's principal flax and
hemp production basin, producing more
than 150,000 metric tons of fibre per year.
A unique set of skills and expertise rein-

As alternatives to fossil resources, European flax and hemp fibres are
inspiring a new generation of composite products. Their advantages -
renewably sourced raw materials, steady production costs and reliable
mechanical performance - are strategic ones that multisector key-account manufacturers can believe in. To perpetuate this confidence, the
European flax and hemp industry makes R&D investment an integral
part of every stage of production, from developing the raw material to
the industrialization of the semi-finished products. Flax and hemp reinforcements provide solutions with impeccable traceability, they meet
manufacturer expectations in terms of cost and performance, and they
anticipate demands for sustainable development from consumers who
are becoming more and more aware on such issues.

forces this leadership all along the value
chain, from upstream to downstream.
Three different types of skills interact where
composite applications are concerned. The
agricultural production of the fibre plants
is the first step; then comes the initial fibre
extraction process, more commonly known
as "scutching"; and finally the conversion
of these fibres into semi-finished products.
This European industry brings together
the entire value chain, relying on extended
knowledge and research the better to control
all conversion steps.
Over the past ten years, the sectors concerned by European flax and hemp fibres have
been developing at the industrial, multisector and international scales. The fibres
from different crops can be assembled,
which ensures the homogenous quality and
quantity of European flax and hemp fibres
from one year to the next. Through its
structured organization, the European flax
and hemp industry backs up the guarantee
of a reliable supply of quality raw materials,
and this also extends to all flax and hemp
semi-finished products.

34 jec composites magazine / No97 May - June 2015

Fig.1: European flax fields

Adding performance
The penetration of flax and hemp fibre
applications into the composite sector is due
mainly to their specific performance. They
provide advantages like low density (1.45
vs. 2.55 for glass fibre); specific stiffness;
high impact, torsional and shear strength;
vibration damping; and good acoustic and
thermal properties. Flax and hemp fibres
also improve the end-of-life efficiency of
components by optimizing the recyclingthrough-incineration process, with zero
waste, carbon neutrality, or even 100%
biodegradability for the most innovative
organic-matrix composites.

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #97 - Special JEC Americas - May/June 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #97 - Special JEC Americas - May/June 2015