EC Fund Natural Fibres Project

Smithers Rapra, a subsidiary of the US-based CRO The Smithers Group, has joined a thirteen-strong European consortium researching into the development of a hydroacoustic radial cell decortication process for the production of high quality natural fibres.

More than €1.7 million will be provided by the European Commission throughout the three-year UltraFibre project which aims to reduce processing costs, improving fibre quality, consistency and efficiency. This will be

achieved by delivering a scalable, economic, continuous, clean fluidsonics technology to deliver tonnage quantities of high quality fibre, also conferring higher quality commercial thermoplastic and thermosetting composites in targeted end-user applications.

Smithers Rapra’s Project Leader, Suzanne Wilkinson said: “The UltraFibre project aims to realise these goals by developing the patented ‘InControl hydro-acoustic system’ and ‘AcXys Technologies atmospheric plasma

treatment system’ for improved adhesion between polymeric materials and the natural fibres”.