composite / Fibre-Reinforced / Natural Fibre Composite

Flax fibre composite panel (1mm, 2mm, 3mm, 5mm laminate sheets)

Natural fibre composite laminates with density around 1.35 g/cm3 and tensile strength around 120 MPa (flax/epoxy laminate example). Fibre properties: tensile strength ~345?1830 MPa.

Atlas code
COM-FRC-NFC-002
compositefibre-reinforcednatural-fibresustainablebio-basedflaxacoustic
Flax fibre composite panel (1mm, 2mm, 3mm, 5mm laminate sheets)
At-a-glance signals

Natural fibre composite laminates with density around 1.35 g/cm3 and tensile strength around 120 MPa (flax/epoxy laminate example). Fibre properties: tensile strength ~345?1830 MPa.

Overview
Executive summary

Flax fibre composite panels use flax fibres in polymer matrices (e.g., epoxy). A flax/epoxy woven laminate data set reports density ~1.35 g/cm3, tensile strength ~120 MPa, tensile modulus ~13.5 GPa, and flexural strength ~165 MPa, with properties dependent on fibre volume fraction and processing. Flax fibre itself has reported tensile strength in the range ~345?1830 MPa and modulus ~27?80 GPa.

Best when…
  • Low density (~1.35 g/cm3) for flax/epoxy laminates
  • Tensile strength around 120 MPa in laminate example
  • Flax fibres have high specific stiffness compared with many natural fibres
Top advantages
  1. 01 Low density (~1.35 g/cm3) for flax/epoxy laminates
  2. 02 Tensile strength around 120 MPa in laminate example
  3. 03 Flax fibres have high specific stiffness compared with many natural fibres
Top limitations
  1. 01 Properties are highly dependent on fibre orientation and volume fraction
  2. 02 Fire performance not specified without system testing
  3. 03 Moisture sensitivity depends on resin system and protective coatings
Technical
Physical ·9
Density
1.35 g/cm3 Flax/epoxy laminate example (balanced weave, prepreg).
Specific gravity
1.4-1.5
Porosity
2-4% (resin-dependent) %
Water absorption
1.5-3.3% (24 hours at 23°C) %
Hardness
Shore D 70-80
UV resistance
Poor - requires protective coating
Chemical resistance
Moderate - affected by alkaline solutions
pH tolerance
4-9 pH range
Surface roughness
Ra 2-5 μm (moulded surface) µm
Mechanical ·7
Tensile strength
120 MPa Flax/epoxy laminate example (balanced weave).
Compressive strength
100-150 MPa MPa
Flexural strength
165 MPa Flexural strength for flax/epoxy laminate example.
Shear strength
20-30 MPa MPa
Poisson's ratio
0.35-0.4
Impact resistance
15-25 kJ/m² (Charpy)
Creep resistance
Poor under sustained load at >50% ultimate strength
Sustainability & Health
Embodied carbon & energy ·7
Embodied carbon
Data not available Product-specific LCA/EPD required.
Carbon footprint
3.5-4.2 kg CO₂-eq/kg
Embodied energy
55 GJ/tonne MJ/kg
Water footprint
3,800-4,200 L/kg fibre L/kg
Recycled content
0% (virgin agricultural fibres) %
Renewable content
50-80% (fibre + bio-resin content) %
Circular score
3/10 (limited recycling infrastructure)
Compliance & Fire
No compliance data recorded for this material.
Cost & Lifecycle
Service life & durability ·3
Expected lifespan
20-50 years (interior), 10-20 years (exterior protected)
Maintenance interval
Annual inspection, 3-5 year coating renewal (exterior)
Warranty period
1 year (consumer), 10-15 years projected (structural)
Layer D

Where it's used

Interior wall panels in commercial buildings
Acoustic panels and ceiling systems
Modular and prefabricated housing components
Marine vessel interiors and non-structural components
Automotive interior panels and trim
Furniture and architectural features
Sports equipment and consumer products
Exhibition and display systems
Partitions in Class 1 residential buildings
Non-structural decorative elements
COM-FRC-NFC-002 · Materials Atlas · CLAD Atlas data is reference-only. Verify against manufacturer specifications and current standards before specifying.