Internship: Flax Fiber Composites - Mechanical Performance and Structural Potential

Introduction 

As part of the ongoing development of sustainable materials, Solico, in collaboration with EVE Reserve, Cureworks, Q Concept, and Delft Infrastructures, is investigating innovative flax fibers produced with a low-carbon-footprint technique. The goal is to explore their mechanical potential and suitability for structural applications. 

We are seeking a motivated and technically inclined intern to perform in-depth research and testing on flax fibers, focusing on mechanical performance benchmarking. The intern will compare commercially available flax fibers with the new low-carbon-production fibers, contributing directly to a comprehensive mechanical properties database. In addition, the internship will include comparative studies on structural elements, assessing whether natural fibers can effectively replace synthetic alternatives such as glass fibers, considering both weight and performance. 

What You’ll Work On: 

Material Characterization: 

• Perform mechanical testing of flax fibers (tensile, 4-point bending, ILSS)  

• Develop a database of mechanical properties based on test results  

• Evaluate the test results, including analysing variability, comparing with literature values, deriving characteristic values for design, and explaining observed differences 

Comparative Research: 

• Compare commercially available flax fibers with innovative low-carbon-production flax fibers 

• Conduct a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to compare the relative sustainability of each fiber type 

• Assess both mechanical performance and potential design implications of the fibers  

Structural Analysis: 

• Compare glass fiber composites with flax fiber composites in selected structural elements  

• Evaluate weight, stiffness, and strength to assess the potential for substituting natural fibers for synthetic alternatives  

• Analyse feasibility for structural applications 

Company

Founded over 30 years ago, Solico Engineering is Benelux’s largest composite engineering company, and proudly supports market leading composites manufacturers across a broad spectrum of Maritime, Defence, Civil & Architecture and Industrial markets. Always independent, and focused on smart, fit for purpose design, we commit to add value to every project we engineer.

** A VOG is required