Depending on the requirements of your product we help you to select the most suitable materials.
Our goal is to help you maximize Sustainability (in terms of CO2e savings) as well as Product Performance (in terms of low weight and high stiffness) while keeping the costs as low and competitive as possible.
Please keep in mind that the processing of Natural Fibre Composites (NFC) requires advanced processing know-how. If you do not have extensive experience in processing composites (i.e. working with vacuum infusion) we recommend purchasing our semi-finished or custom products.
Available Fabrics and Non-Crimp Fabrics
We use a variety of Fabrics in our production. Below are the fabrics we use most often and therefore
also usually have on stock. Please get in touch for additional information. Next to Fabrics we also offer ready-to-use Sandwich Panels as well as Custom Components (see images below).
GB-UD 200g/m² & 300g/m²
Unidirectional Fabrics. Ideal for specific Fibre Orientation.
Request Technical Product Data Sheet for additional information.
GB-BIAX (+/-45) 400g/m² & 600g/m²
Ideal for cost-efficient production of structural composites.
Request Technical Product Data Sheet for additional information.
GB-WOVEN(+/-90) 350g/m²
Ideal as a Design/ Finishing Layer.
Request Technical Product Data Sheet for additional information.
Natural Reinforcement Fabrics for Sustainable Composites.
GREENBOATS FABRICS are reinforced textiles based on natural raw materials such as flax fibers, specially developed for fibre reinforced polymer composite applications. The fabric can be used with a variety of resins for vacuum infusion, resin transfer molding (RTM), compression molding, prepreg, and more.
GREENBOATS FABRICS offer high performance and ease of processing but have a significantly lower environmental impact compared to synthetic fibers. The Fibres we are using are grown in France and Belgium. Production of Flax has a negative impact on global warming due to the CO2 sequestration during its growth.
GREENBOATS FABRICS use high-quality twist-free flax fibre rowings to ensure a high level of fibre orientation and associated performance. The fabrics are suitable for a wide range of structural and semi-structural applications in industries such as automotive, construction, marine, sports, and consumer goods.
The optimal choice of fabrics is determined by the requirements of your projects. Our Engineering Team is glad to assist you in the process.
Choice of Optimal Sustainable Resin System
A significant part of your final composite product will consist of the resin system you are using. At the outset, you have to choose between a plant-based or a recycled system. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. The optimal choice depends on different factors. For example the kind of reinforcement fibres you are using:
When using natural fibre reinforcements we would recommend the use of plant-based resin systems. The fabrics have a low CO2e Footprint and a significant part of the Input Energy can be recovered, for example using thermal recycling at the end of life. Moreover, the recovered natural fibres only have limited use for future structural applications. At best you will be able to use them as short fibres. Also, you have to consider that the recycling process is also very energy intensive and requires significant amounts of chemical substances.
If you are, however, using more energy-intense raw materials, for example, carbon fibres that require 10-20x the energy input, compared with for example flax fibre reinforcements, you are likely to be able to reduce your overall footprint by using a recyclable resin system. The resin and fibres that are recovered by means of a chemical recycling process are not as good as the original materials used (it is a downcycling process), but they can be used to replace other materials that would otherwise have been produced as virgin materials. E.g.: a thermoset resin can be used as a thermoplastic; Long carbon fibres can be recovered as short fibres.
Also within each category there are a number of different systems. On the PLant Based side the systems range in Bio-Content from 30% to almost 100%. The system suitable for your product depends on the materials and process you are intending on using.
We help you to select and source the most suitable system. Please get in touch with our sales team to learn more.
Sustainable Core Materials
The selected combination of fabrics is processed into laminated Skins. Depending on the requirements of the application, the laminated can be combined with a core, to create a sandwich composite.
Next to the performance, the Core Material has a significant impact on the Sustainability of your product. Through our experience, we can help you weigh the various factors together for the best overall result. You can then obtain the material directly from our supplier network.
Closed Foam
- Recycled PET
- Bio Based Foam
100% Natural
- Cork
- Balsa Wood
Honeycomb Structures
- Recycled Paper Honeycomb
- Nomex
Sustainability
For the Supply Chain of our Fabrics, the below data reflects all currently available information. We are in close exchange with our suppliers and regularly review and update the information:
The main impact of the transformation of agricultural products into technical fabrics lies in the manufacturing of the roving, which requires water and energy. Overall, the environmental impact of producing flax reinforcements is approx. 70% lower than that of manufacturing equivalent glass reinforcements. This is reflected in the GWP Value: it is 0,48kg CO2e for a Kg of Flax fabrics compared to 2,9kg CO2e for a Kg of glass fabric.
