Sweden-based spread-tow fabric (STF) carbon reinforcements provider Oxeon AB is finalising an agreement with a South African distributor for the supply of its TeXtreme product, owing to growing local demand, espe- cially in the sporting goods segment.

“TeXtreme is a light composite reinforcement, offering weight and environmental benefits to the South African airline, aerospace and automotive industries, as a result of reduced fuel consumption,” explains Oxeon AB marketing and sales VP Andreas Martsman.

TeXtreme is a carbon fabric, comprising spread tows instead of yarns that are conventionally implemented in textile reinforcements. “TeXtreme enables weight savings that no other type of composite reinforcement can match,” Martsman emphasises.

“TeXtreme STF carbon-reinforcements use spread tows or thin tapes, creating reinforcements in woven structures or unidirectional (UD) tapes with good mechanical performance enabling big weight savings, which is a unique phenomena when compared with conventional reinforcements,” the company explains.

The fabrics are produced by interlacing STF tapes of required fibres to obtain a virtually crimpless fabric with a straight orientation of fibres. This results in a unique reinforcement, with the mechanical performance of a cross-plied UD tape.

“TeXtreme spread-tow tapes are produced by spreading tows of the required fibre type into UD tapes of certain areal weight and width. The spreading of tows enables the production of UD tapes with low areal weight that maintains the consistency of width,” Martsman adds.

“The spread-tow structure enables a thinner laminate structure, while straighter fibres with reduced crimp strengthen the composite, and lower crimp reduces the amount of plastic needed during composites manu- facturing, thereby reducing weight.”

The TeXtreme technology was developed in 1997 at the Chalmers University of Tech- nology, in Gothenburg, Sweden, by Nanadan Khokar, a doctoral student who invented a new weaving technology using tapes. The technology was patented and further developed into a business at the university’s school of entrepreneurship.

Subsequently, Oxeon AB was established in 2003 by Martsman and three other students who shared a growing interest in the TeXtreme technology.

Martsman tells Engineering News that the company is involved in projects with origi- nal-equipment manufacturers that want to use TeXtreme in the production of aeroplanes, thereby reducing fuel consumption, helping the environment and expanding TeXtreme’s reach to the aerospace industry.

A conservative replacement of current traditional materials with TeXtreme carbon-fibre fabrics could, for example, in composite panels in aircraft, lower the weight of aircraft to the extent that potential fuel cost-savings, for 20 airlines, could be more than $43-million a year, Martsman stated in a media release in early 2013.

The reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, resulting from weight savings of this magnitude, equalled about one-million laps around the world in flight miles, added Martsman.

“An investment from airlines in TeXtreme would result in massive money savings. Should all airlines and their manufacturers use TeXtreme for their composites, the potential fuel savings and the effect of lower CO₂ emissions are enormous. To save millions in fuel costs and simultaneously contribute to a greener and more sustainable world should be in everyone’s interest,” noted Martsman.

He highlighted that carbon fibre and other composite reinforcements were already used in the aerospace industry and in other markets where weight reduction was required. “Carbon fibre is one of the best reinforcements available for producing light-weight products with good mechanical properties regarding stiffness and strength.”

Martsman noted that 20%- to 30%-lighter composite parts could be produced with improved mechanical properties and superior surface smoothness.