College of Engineering Unit:
Composites are unique materials which exhibit specific and useful material properties and characteristics that generally offer a high strength to weight ratio. This project investigates a natural fiber composite composed primarily of sable palm fronds reinforced by an eco-friendly bioresin. Unlike similar materials, these palm fronds are sourced from a large, existing waste stream. This eliminates the need for planting and harvesting and allows potential manufacturers to reduce the amount of material sent to landfills. This increases the overall sustainability of the product which was thoroughly considered and analyzed. The material was originally developed in collaboration between Oregon State University (OSU) and University of West Florida.
The goal of the project is to prove additional material viability to venture capitalists and other potential investors through characterization, analysis and prototyping. Work was done by the OSU team to develop manufacturing documentation for material testing samples and surfboard fin prototypes. The manufactured samples were used in both tensile and three point bending tests to begin characterizing the material. To ensure the sustainability of the product, a complete life cycle analysis (LCA) was also conducted. This LCA analyzes the material from cradle to grave and considers all aspects of the procurement, shipping, manufacturing, and waste methods. Overall, it was seen that the strength of the board was somewhere between that of balsa wood and bamboo, but it was lighter and lass wasteful in terms of carbon emissions than bamboo.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 final_report.docx_.pdf | 6.02 MB |
| engr.04.expo_poster.pptx_.pdf | 991.32 KB |