MAT PREPARATIONMilkweed and synthetic fibers (PP) are blended together following a patented process. The materialobtained is called a « cavolié », a sort of thick mat, the milkweed:PP ratio, thickness and area massdensity of which are controlled to meet the requirements.

An example of application of milkweed fiber: Door panels for automotive applications

Patrice Cousin, Pierre Ovlaque, Clément Richard, Mathieu Robert, Saïd ElkounCarrefour d’Innovations en technologies écologiques (CITÉ), Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada

THERMOCOMPRESSION Milkweed mats are manufactured using a conventionnalthermocompression process. The area mass density ofcomposite may be ajusted as needed during the cardingprocess. Very first results have been obtained using mats withan area density of 1200 g/m² and 800 g/m² mats.

CONCLUSION ● Milkweed fiber is the lightest natural fiber, which can beused in composite industry. ● Molding of milkweed-based composites does not requireany specific equipment.● Many other fields could benefit from using milkweed fiber, such as construction, aerospace or sport & leisure.

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REFERENCES[1]M. Lewin, Handbook of Fiber Chemistry, Third Edition. CRC Press, 2006[2] S. Mazumdar, Composites Manufacturing: Materials, Product, and Process Engineering. CRC Press, 2001. • Improve mechanical strength.

• Meet the specifications for automotive door panels.• Test composites with various milkweed ratio and area mass density.• Measure the effect of thermocompression parameters on properties.• Explore new applications in various fields of activities.

ON GOING STUDIES TO:

Need more information?● Attend Professor Mathieu Robert’s conference entitled:Reach the Ultimate Frontier of Lightweight Composites with American

Silk Fiber (Thursday 29, 9:00 AM- 9:45 AM, room 207A) ● Visit http://encore3.com/en/ and http://protec-style.com/en/● Write to Professor Robert : Mathieu.Robert2@USherbrooke.ca

RESULTSThese results were obtained from a composite containing 50 wt% milkweed and 50 wt% PP fiber.

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Flax (1100g/m²) Mw (800g/m²) Mw (1200g/m²)

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Elastic modulus (MPa)

E (MPa)E spec (MPa)

As milkweed fiber is much lighter than flax, the area mass density ofcomposites is dramatically reduced. The elastic modulus, E, of flaxand milkweed-containing composites has been measured. The resultsshow that E of is much higher for the milkweed composite than forthe flax composite.

SEM micrographs show that, despite the pressure applied during thethermo-compression process, the structure of milkweed fibersstructure is not strongly affected. Most of fibers still present hollowcores, which provide excellent sound and thermal insulationproperties.

OBJECTIVE

The reduction of weight in automotive decreasesgas consumption and greenhouse gas emission.Milkweed fibers are hollow fibers with an ultra lowdensity as compared to conventional fibers, suchas hemp, flax or kenaf. Thanks to the developmentof an exclusive carding process, it is now possibleto use this amazing fiber in composites using aconventional thermocompression process.This preliminary study explores the potentiality ofmilkweed fiber as an alternative for flax fiber asreinforcement in semi-structural panels forautomotive applications.

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Flax Hemp Kenaf Milkweed

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Milkweed fiber « Cavolié » (Thick mat)1 1 1

Flax and milkweed panels

Laminate after thermocompression