Agriculture to benefit from bio-composites

While research is still in the relatively early stage, bio-composites appear destined to become a phrase of growing importance to a variety of Canadian agricultural sectors.

Bio-composites use the stiffness and strength of filamentary materials like cellulose. They use a variety of fibre containing materials including traditional pulp and paper products and fibre reinforced wood composites.

Reinforced composite materials can be derived from fibres like flax and hemp.

In large part, the progress is due to the innovative work of the Composites Innovation Centre Manitoba Inc. (CIC), a not-for-profit corporation jointly sponsored by private industry and government mandates with support from government, research and educational organizations.

Its task force - comprised of industry and government representatives - is focusing on areas targeted for development and support of Manitoba’s composites industry including the agriculture, aerospace and transportation sectors.

Research and development is ongoing in agriculture and other sectors including aerospace and transportation.

“Bio-composites have been recognized by our board of directors as an up and coming technology, incorporating natural materials whether they be agricultural fibres or even resins that are developed from agricultural sources,” said Mercedes Alcock, CIC Bio-Composites Project Leader. “There is a move to getting away from the petroleum based resins.

“We are supporting a research initiative at the University of Manitoba to make a canola-based resin. One of our most interesting projects is a bio fibre initiative that we submitted for funding from the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF). It would target the use of bio fibres for composites, a process that would link agricultural producers directly to industry. Industry is willing to incorporate those materials into a traditional composite.

“This initiative will see fibre produced, refined, placed into a material and incorporated into composites, not just in the province but Canada wide. That should have a significant impact upon producers. As for funding - we’re hoping that it’s a case of any day now. We are in the process of putting together a job description for a project coordinator to be hired.”

To date the centre’s work has attracted input from a variety of agricultural organizations including the Hemp Association and Flax Canada 2015.

Alcock said another major CIC project is with Avanti Polymers, a company from rural Manitoba. The result of the work is the development of a unique blend of polyurethane resin and hemp fibres used for the manufacture of furniture including desktops, tables, stools and seats.

In support of the project, CIC used its hammer mill and fibre separation equipment to process initial batches of hemp fibre - defining and coordinating the product test program.

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