Sonderhoff presented a 40% flax fibre reinforced polyurethane at the FSK plastic foam industry association's symposium, held at Volkswagen in
The new material was presented by Sonderhoff Chemicals development manager Volker Welsch in a paper entitled "What is the potential for natural fibre reinforced polyurethane?" Welsch stated that the natural fibre-reinforced material has 67% naturally recurring raw material content. This is not only thanks to the flax, but also the use of polyol with a high naturally recurring content.
He went on to describe the usual advantages of flax fibres over glass fibres in terms of lower density and how flax reinforced plastics do not give rise to sharp edges upon fracture, as is the case with both glass and especially carbon fibres.
Welsch maintained that the new material has the potential to be used as a polyurethane alternative to epoxide resin based products made by the resin infusion process, in terms of both properties and ease of processing.
The new low viscosity hydrophobic polyurethane system was said to have high mechanical strength. Welsch illustrated one of its potential uses by displaying a door panel in the material, similar to a VW Golf door panel.
Sonderhoff says interest has already been shown in the new natural fibre reinforced PUR system, and it will further develop such materials. This could widen application possibilities well beyond the door panel example shown in