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Project

Improvement of the processing of natural fibres for composites and development of natural fibre composite applications.

Focus in the project will be on novel ways to prepare fibrous preforms or prepregs for composites manufacturing. The Vietnamese partners will focus on processes to make mat-like preforms. Also, further work will be done on the extraction of bamboo and coconut technical fibres. Applications will be developed with the automotive sector in Vietnam and with composite moulding companies (helmet application). K.U. Leuven will also work on fibre handling, preforming and prepregging processes. The target is to develop processes to make uni-directional (UD) fibre arrangements. KU Leuven will further be responsible for characterisation and treatment of fibres, composite processing and characterisation of composite properties. The surface science approach for interface optimisation will be further developed. Hybrid composites of bamboo and coconut will be explored.
Date:1 Dec 2009 →  30 Jun 2012
Keywords:Thermoplastic composites, Natural fibre composites, Preforming, Prepregging, Application development, Surface science approach, Hybrid composites, Fibre extraction
Disciplines:Agricultural animal production, Agricultural plant production, Agriculture, land and farm management, Other agriculture, forestry, fisheries and allied sciences, Biotechnology for agriculture, forestry, fisheries and allied sciences, Fisheries sciences, Analytical chemistry, Macromolecular and materials chemistry, Composites and hybrid materials