MUNDOMATERIAL

A while back I wrote a post about Bicycles and the materials they are made of. I gave some examples of bicycles made with renewable materials, like composites reinforced with flax fibres. I’ve already show you a few pics of bicycles made with bamboo that I’ve found while visiting Expoquimia. Today I’d like to show you more bamboo bikes, adding laminated bamboo and engineered wood ones. First is the Bamboosero Bikes project, lead by Craig Calfee. It helps developing communities to produce bamboo bikes, which are then sold around the world. The ease to find the raw material and to work with it to produce sustainable and reliable bicycles is clearly shown in the video below. Right now this project is set in Ghana, but the promoters would like financial support to export the idea to other countries. Renovo Hardwood Bikes (Portland, USA) builds hollow frames with engineered wood and complete bikes with laminated bamboo. Although Bamboosero bikes are a more complete project... 
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Note from Lucía: Today’s post is written by guest author Nuno Helder, material specialist currently working as design engineer of flexible composites in the Aerospace Industry. Today I’d like to present the upcoming conference “Biopackaging: From Feedstock to Waste Stream”. This conference, held in London 8-10th September 2009, will be of special interest for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME). The event will gather representatives of the whole supply chain of bioplastics, as well as investors, researchers and regulator bodies. On the 8th of September there will be a workshop on the “Principles and Concepts of Biobased and Biodegradable Materials/Plastics”, which should be a splendid opportunity for those new to the subject. The diagram below identifies the type of attendees that will attend this venue or have done so in previous editions. I have gone through the list of previous attendees and all areas are well represented, with the exception of investment institutions.... 
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Traditionally considered a coarse fibre, kenaf is finding its place in the automotive and electronics market thanks to its use as reinforcement in composites. Its combination with PLA, a bioplastic sourced from corn, may illustrate the new focus of materials’ development nowadays. 2009 has been declared by the FAO the International Year of Natural Fibres. This is post is the third in a series dedicated to natural fibres. What is Kenaf? Kenaf, or Hibiscus Cannabinus, belongs to the Malvacean family and producers are based around the globe, although India and China are the major producers. Often compared with jute and hemp, kenaf applications could be classified as it follows: traditional uses, low value: rope, twine, clothing, animal bedding and feed Innovative Applications, medium value: Paper, engineered wood, environmental mat, oil and liquid absorbent material Kenaf Oil: edible oil, can also be used in cosmetics, lubricants and production of biofuel Composite materials, high value:... 
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After my latest post, which was a brief intro on 2009 being the International Year of Natural Fibres, I’m writing today about fique and its fibre, cabuya (I’ve left these terms untranslated, but I’m open to suggestions). Fique, or Furcrae macrophyla, is grown mainly in Colombia. Much of the information used to write this post has been taken from this report, published by the Observatorio de Competitividad Agrocadenas Colombia. Although I like to provide useful links in my posts, I have to admit that for this post it has been very difficult to find any information in English, so most of the links included are in Spanish. Several semi-finished products are obtained from the fique plant: the fibre, also called cabuya, bagasse, solid residues and juices. Some of the commercial products obtained after further processing are as follows: from the fibre: thread, fabric, packaging and, empaques y biomats from bagasse: paper, reinforced fibre, conglomerates, mattress filler from... 
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The FAO has declared 2009 International Year of Natural Fibres. Within natural fibres we can find materials as important for humanity as wool, cotton or flax, key in our development through history. They are used in a variety of markets, to produce textiles, paper and composite materials. The benefits of their production, sales and export significantly help farmers in deprived areas to secure an income, a rare advantage over other crops and lines of work. For this reason, mundomaterial wants to promote through 2009 the use of natural fibres in their many applications. 2009 has been declared by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,FAO, the International Year of Natural Fibres. With this initiative FAO aims at promoting the use of natural fibres of animal and vegetal origin. Modern manmade synthetic fibres, like nylon, polyester or acrylic fibres are obviously not included. Other natural fibres sourced from trees are not included, as they will be promoted in 2011,... 
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