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Content archived on 2023-11-13

Latex replacement for automotive interior felts and building industry

Objective

This LATEXFRI project is a way to launch industrially a new technology (D-Preg from Fibroline), rewarded with the Innovation Prize during the last Techtextil 2011, to manufacture latex free carpets for automotive interior parts.

Nowadays, a large part of the conventional carpets for cars is manufactured from polyester nonwovens impregnated with a latex coating. Main constraints of those materials are:
-A very energy consuming technology requiring a very long drying step to evaporate water;
-A polluting technology with emissions and waste waters;
-A latex coating in the final product leading to a non-recyclable material.

Fibroline has developed a new «latex free» carpet for the automotive industry, using a sustainable manufacturing solution:
-A large part of the powder binder is a waste from the powder coating industry (painting);
-Due to perfect powder location, binder content is reduced by 50% leading to significant weight reduction;
-The manufacturing process is a patented dry powder impregnation technology requiring very low energy consumption compared to latex;
-This new bonding method permits a final recycling of the product, contrary to latex coated parts.

Main objectives of the Latexfri project will be to bring the innovation on the market in order to break remaining technical and psychological barriers linked to the innovative character of the solution.
Fibroline will thus be in a position to disseminate and convince very quickly several additional partners (target of 30% market share within the next 5 years).
This project will also include the extension of the innovation to Building industry in particular for sound absorption products in order fully exploit the potential of the technology.

During this latex free project, 3 different companies will join forces:
-Fibroline as the technology provider;
-A car part manufacturer (first industrial user of the technology);
-A specialist in plastic recycling for the end of life management of the product.

Topic(s)

Data not available

Call for proposal

CIP-EIP-Eco-Innovation-2011
See other projects for this call

Coordinator

FIBROLINE FRANCE SARL
EU contribution
No data
Address
RUE AUGUSTE TRAMIER 20
ECULLY
France

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Administrative Contact
Jerome VILLE (Mr)
Links
Total cost
No data

Participants (2)