Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1

Kiteboarding, wind surfing and cold water surfing are highly competitive water sport with a large number of specific needs on the mechanical properties of their equipment. Indeed, one of the central requirements of the sports is the large and inflatable kites which are used to harness the power of the wind and launch the surfer into the air at high speed. As with any product that is designed to fly, the flight characteristics (aerodynamics, weight, resistance to tear...) of theses kites are extremely important for the surfer, in terms of performance (speed, altitude of flight) and ease of use.Over the last year, the major brand manufacturers focused on one key area of the kite design: lightwind sailing. Better lightwind performance allows users to get on the water sooner, when the wind and the sea are calmer and less intimidating than high wind days. In competition, it ensures the continuity of the event even if the wind drops to low levels.This focus led industry to perform massive weight reduction on their products. Over the past decade, the average weight of a kite drop from 4,5 kgs to 3,2 kgs. However, the technical limit will be soon reached with the current sail materials used in the market. The rigors and demands of the high performance kites would no longer be fulfilled at this rate.The objective of this project is the development and the process optimization of a new material: a laminated lightweight polymer woven. The nature of the polymer will confer shock and abrasion resistance while the assembly processes will provide lightness and maneuverability to the kite. Built for the water sport, this new material could, in the future, expand his range of application in other ""extreme outdoor"" field like aerospace or sailing.