Panel · 1–5 mm
Fibre-Reinforced — indicative fig. C·12
Fire Data pending Embodied carbon Data pending Compressive 100-150 MPaMPa StructuralDesign life 20yr
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.
01 Physical
Density 1.35g/cm3
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
02 Mechanical
Tensile strength 120MPa
Compressive strength 100-150 MPaMPa
Flexural strength 165MPa
Shear strength 20-30 MPaMPa
Poisson's ratio 0.35-0.4
Impact resistance 15-25 kJ/m² (Charpy)
Creep resistance Poor under sustained load at >50% ultimate strength
03 Thermal
Thermal conductivity 0.182-0.213 W/m·KW/m·K
Specific heat 1,200-1,400 J/kg·KJ/kg·K
Thermal expansion -1.2 × 10⁻⁶/K (fibre direction), 75 × 10⁻⁶/K (transverse)×10⁻⁶/°C
04 Compliance & Fire First question
Fire & compliance data pending — verify combustibility and BAL rating against product certification before specifying.
05 Sustainability & Health
Embodied carbon Data not available
Carbon footprint 3.5-4.2 kg CO₂-eq/kg
Embodied energy 55 GJ/tonneMJ/kg
Water footprint 3,800-4,200 L/kg fibreL/kg
Recyclability Limited - 6-46% property degradation%
Recycled content 0% (virgin agricultural fibres)%
Renewable content 50-80% (fibre + bio-resin content)%
Circular score 3/10 (limited recycling infrastructure)
VOC emissions <50 g/L (bio-epoxy systems)
Toxicity rating Low - no hazardous emissions during use
LEED contribution MR credits: 2-4 points potential
06 Durability · Cost · Logistics
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)
07 Assessment
Advantages
- 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
Constraints
- Properties are highly dependent on fibre orientation and volume fraction
- Fire performance not specified without system testing
- Moisture sensitivity depends on resin system and protective coatings
08 Applications
A1 Interior wall panels in commercial buildings
A2 Acoustic panels and ceiling systems
A3 Modular and prefabricated housing components
A4 Marine vessel interiors and non-structural components
A5 Automotive interior panels and trim
A6 Furniture and architectural features
A7 Sports equipment and consumer products
A8 Exhibition and display systems
A9 Partitions in Class 1 residential buildings
A10 Non-structural decorative elements
09 Sources & Standards
Sources pending — citations for this material are not yet recorded. Verify all figures against manufacturer data and current standards before specifying.