Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

This project will utilize flax fibre based biocomposite for development of composite product for agricultural equipments for CNH industry. Flax fibres have the advantages of low density, low cost, and recyclable, thus, they are thought as potential materials to reinforce plastic materials. Injection moulding is suited to producing small high-strength detailed parts, while compression moulding allows for orientation of the reinforcing material, in this case, the natural fibres. This proposal is an extension of our ongoing CNH project work. The main objectives of this proposed project are to optimize the parameters affecting the processing of flax fibre-based composite products through extrusion and injection moulding. Extrusion offers the advantages of achieving uniform raw material while moulding provides opportunity for producing precise and compact industrial products. Upon the determination and optimization of the process parameters, raw material will be prepared for commercial manufacturing of composite products for CNH. This project will develop a biocomposite raw material which is pre-treated flax fibre and polymer material filled with fibre, for example flax fibre-filled thermoplastic intended for agricultural equipments manufacturer CNH. The proposed biocomposite material is potential alternative to existing plastic that will be suitable for the injection moulding parts for agricultural equipments manufactured by CNH. There is a great potential for flax straw derived fibre to be utilized as reinforcing material for plastics, thus, bringing down the cost of production. The results of this research will benefit the players involved in flax production and bio-products manufacturing and help create new jobs in rural and urban areas in Canada. Flax producers will benefit from increased value-added utilization of flax straw by contributing to the overall farm income.