Compoflax braid
Braided tube in pure or co-mingled linen

Features

Flax fiber tubular braid, developed specifically to enable you to manufacture high-performance dynamic composite tubes, combining rigidity, flexibility and lightness. This braid is an ideal replacement for fiberglass tubing: - Flax is lighter than glass (density 1.5 vs. 2.54 for fiberglass) - Higher specific rigidity - Better vibration absorption than glass or carbon - Superior thermal and acoustic insulation than carbon fiber - More virtuous carbon footprint: flax is a renewable material that requires no irrigation or inputs for its cultivation Braided 100% flax
This braid is fully compatible with epoxy, polyester or phenolic resins.
The CTE (Coefficient of Thermal Expansion) is close to zero, making it compatible for processing with carbon fibers
Our braid is compatible with composite processes based on infusion (vacuum infusion, RTM), wet draping processes, compression bladder molding and standard compression and autoclave molding.
Please note, flax fibers always contain some moisture under ambient conditions. Some resins (particularly polyesters) are sensitive to moisture and may polymerize poorly or create bubbles. In this case, dry
the tubular braid before use (we recommend 110°C for 15 minutes)
- With a process pressure > 5 bar, it is possible to achieve a fiber weight fraction of 50%. However, fibers absorb a lot of resin during hand lamination and tend to look "dry" (unless there is too much) before pressure is applied. We recommend controlling the amount of glue used to laminate, and impregnating with 50-60% resin by weight. Excess resin escapes when the braid is compressed. Flax/thermoplastic roving braid
We produce braids in flax co-melted with various thermosetting or thermoplastic fibers that act as matrix.
The range of matrix fibers is wide, using either bio-sourced fibers (Rilsan® PA 11, PLA), or polypro PP, recycled or not, depending on demand.
The great advantage of these braids is that they can be used to produce composite tubes without the need for additional resin, by thermocompression: the braid is compressed and heated, and the thermoplastic melts and diffuses between the flax fibers. The braid then hardens as it cools, producing a rigid composite tube that benefits from the properties of flax described above. Depending on the tube diameter required, we produce these braids with more or less spindles: from 16 to 96 possible spindles. With the most virtuous carbon footprint in the world of composites always in our sights: from the flax fields to our braiding plant, it's just 200km! Contact us today to find out more. We manufacture all our products in our workshops in France.