180g (5.3oz) Cross-Stitched Unidirectional Flax Fiber 1000mm (39")

FLAXDRY-UD 180 is a dry, undirectional flax fiber reinforcement, supported by a lightweight cross-stitched weft, resulting in a UD fabric with excellent stability, handleability and drape characteristics.

Unidirectional reinforcement like this is used to provide maximum strength and stiffness in a particular direction and can be layered with other plies of UD, or woven reinforcement, to produce a laminate with optimum stiffness according to the loads acting on the component.

About Flax Fiber

Flax fiber is environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative to traditional composite reinforcements such as glass fiber.

Although flax fiber offers lower overall strength and stiffness compared to reinforcements such as glass fiber, it does offer particular advantages in vibration damping and sound absorption, along with adequate mechanical properties and a natural aesthetic to complement its environmental credentials.

How to Process

Flax fiber can be processed in a similar way to most dry composite reinforcements including glass or carbon fiber reinforcement and is suitable for use with a wide variety of resins such as epoxy, vinylester and polyester resin, including more sustainable or environmentally friendly synthetic and bio-based systems. Flax reinforcement can be used on its own or in conjunction with other types of reinforcement, including glass or carbon, to achieve the desired properties or appearance.

Dry flax fiber can be laminated using a range processes including hand layup, vacuum bagged hand layup, resin transfer molding (RTM), resin infusion and matched tool/press molding however the 100% unidirectional construction of this material does result a very dense reinforcement which may infuse considerably more slowly than its woven counterparts.

Typical Uses

Flax reinforcement is most typically used in applications with a focus on environmental sustainability, in particular products like canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, furniture, and leisure products designed for environmentally conscious consumers. When used without a colored paint or gelcoat, flax fiber has a low-key, natural appearance, perfectly in keeping with homes, workspaces and lifestyles of this growing market.

Flax fiber is also used in mass-market applications for its vibration absorption properties including in skis, snowboards and skateboards to create equipment with a dampened feedback.

• Canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards
• Skis, snowboards, skateboards
• Dinghies, yachts
• Furniture, architectural moldings, and panels
• Dashboards, car interior pieces

Bio Resins

To support our range of natural fibers, Easy Composites has sourced a range of bio epoxy resins which use plant derived content from sustainable sources to lower environmental impact without compromising on performance. They are an ideal match for use with these flax fibers. We have our LB2 bio derived epoxy laminating resin which you can find here: LB2 Epoxy Laminating Bio Resin and our IB2 Infusion grade epoxy resin here: IB2 Epoxy Infusion Bio Resin.

How to Buy

This 180gsm (5.3oz/yd²) unidirectional reinforcement is 400mm (16") wide and the fabric is sold by the linear meter (1 meter = 1.09 yards). Simply enter the qty according to the number of linear meters you want to buy; the fabric will be supplied in one continuous length.

The unit price shown is for 1 linear meter but volume discounts automatically apply for larger quantities of fabric.

Please note: When ordering quantities of less than 5m (5.5yd), the flax will be supplied carefully folded and bagged. Flax is a flexible and resilient material and is not damaged by folding in this way but if you want to ensure the material is supplied on a roll, please order a minimum of 5m.

Storage

Flax fiber should be stored in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight. Flax fiber can absorb moisture from the atmosphere so drying may be required before use, especially if exposed to excessive humidity.

About Eco-Technilin

With 20 years of experience, France-based Eco-Technilin is the European leader in the technical use of natural fibers. Easy Composites are proud to be the exclusive UK distributor for Eco-Technilin and support them in their goal to make environmentally friendly technical materials as affordable and accessible as possible.