Online Seminar

Stand-up paddleboards fulfil high requirements with regard to mechanical strength in combination with resistance to moisture, salt water and UV radiation. Up until now, they have been primarily produced using petroleum-based plastics in combination with glass- and carbon-fiber fabrics. We have developed an ecological alternative: a lightweight, durable sandwich material made from renewable raw materials. To demonstrate the material's performance, we used it to manufacture an ecological stand-up paddleboard (“ecoSUP”). In the future, the new bio-composite material could be utilized not only in other watersports equipment but also in the construction of buildings, cars, ships and trains.

In the webinar, we will present the new material and possible applications. We look forward to your participation and your questions!

The core of the new bio-composite material consists of balsa wood from disused wind-energy rotor blades - a sustainable solution for their high-quality recycling. Balsa wood is used in large quantities in the rotor blades of wind turbines. At the end of the life cycle of the rotor blades, it accumulates as waste. For the sandwich shell, we use natural-fiber-reinforced bio-based plastics - including those based on tall oil fatty acid and flax fibers.

To prepare for the webinar, we recommend reading:

• Project description “Lightweight-construction sandwich element made from natural fiber-reinforced bioplastic and recycled balsa wood”
• Press release from 19^th May 2023: “#WeKnowWood: Fraunhofer WKI presents a durable wooden bridge and an eco stand-up paddleboard at LIGNA 2023”