This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at Nuevo material de fibra de platanera para tecnologías de fabricación aditiva

It acts as a reinforcement of the properties of polymer based materials, at the time that takes advantage of a renewable resource in the area

New material of fibre of banana for additive manufacturing technologies

Source: Aiju29/06/2010

June 29, 2010

The mixture of organic materials with polymers is a viable alternative to increase the capacity of plastics degradation and reduce the impact on the environment. In addition, improvements in the mechanical properties of the final product, as for example greater resistance can provide depending on the processing technology. The University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in the framework of the IBE-RM project, has been responsible for this development, which has been the reinforcement of polymer parts obtained by casting in vacuum with fiber obtained from the banana in the Canary Islands.

Vacuum casting is a method used in the industry of additive fabrication or rapid manufacturing (RM) both for the production of prototypes and final pieces, in a short time in comparison with other technologies. The procedure of casting in vacuum is based on the use of silicone moulds made from a manufactured model, for example, using rapid prototyping technologies, for the manufacture of short pieces series. The resins employed in this work are placed in conditions of vacuum, in proportions determined by the manufacturer, in which case the chemical reaction between the two components that make up the resin.

Banana fiber reinforced polymer based materials properties.

The use of natural fibers leads to the decrease of the weight of the piece and the increase of their mechanical properties (tensile strength and stiffness)

Natural banana fiber acts as a reinforcement of such materials. The advantage of the use of natural fibers is the decrease of the weight of the piece, as well as the increase of the mechanical properties (tensile strength and stiffness) obtained parts.

SUNY Martínez, leader of the SP3, subproject referred to the development of new materials for these technologies, indicated: "the composites require the introduction of cohesion and strengthening components." These additives modify substantially the mechanical properties of materials and, depending on the processing technology, the characteristics of the final product. These properties have been established as one of the industrial requirements and for this reason, it is a relevant field object of development, as well as research and production of new kinds of materials and the variation of already existing materials in relation to the size and distribution of grain", levels of purity and quality, alloys, etc. based on the previously identified needs".

The results obtained so far indicate that there is a potential of this fiber use as reinforcement of polymer parts obtained by casting in vacuum, although throughout the development of the draft IBE - RM will continue researching in this field.

Rapid manufacturing technologies allow extraction of prototypes or highly customized end pieces and complex geometry

The research focuses on technologies of rapid manufacturing, the development of materials and the implementation of technologies of information and communication in production processes.

Technology of rapid manufacturing 'made in spain'

The technology of rapid manufacturing (rapid manufacturing) allow extraction of prototypes or highly customized end pieces and complex geometry from the continuous deposition of layers of metallic or polymer material.

Draft IBE-RM is challenge to develop a technology of rapid manufacturing 'made in spain'. For that, the Consortium has the participation of 27 members, between companies, universities and technology centres.

The research has three fronts of action: technologies of rapid manufacturing, development of materials, and implementation of technologies of information and communication in production processes.

The project is headed by the Ascamm Foundation, Member of Tecnio, the network created by ACC1Ó and which brings together experts in technology transfer in Catalonia agents. SP3, referred to the development of new materials, is the responsibility of the technological centre Aiju.

Duration foreseen until 2012 with a budget of 3.3 billion euros for the first two years, the project is partially funded by the Ministry of science and innovation, as well as the European Union within the operating programme of technology by and for the benefit of enterprises (technological Fund) of the ERDF (file PSE-020000-2009-1).