Prioritize research: enhance the performance of milkweed fiber !
Coopérative Monark, in partnership with Université de Sherbrooke, took up the challenge and designed a high-performance “new generation” insulating quilt, using a process never before used with milkweed. This milkweed insulation is 30 to 60% lighter than synthetic equivalents on the market for the same thermal insulation.
As mentioned in the previous article Understanding milkweed fiber to better enhance its value (part 1), milkweed is a fragile fiber. We had to find a non-invasive process so as not to damage it further. Thus, scientific research is fundamental to ensure that the structure of the milkweed fiber is preserved in its entirety and, consequently, its exceptional thermal and acoustic insulation properties when forming it into a non-woven (quilted) fabric.
What is a nonwoven or a quilted fabric ?
What we commonly call a quilted fabric is actually called a nonwoven fabric. A nonwoven fabric is a veil of fibers that is obtained by mixing several fibers that are linked together by different means of assembly other than weaving, knitting or conventional sewing.
Thermoplastic fibers
To overcome the fragility of milkweed fiber, it is necessary to reinforce it with a thermoplastic fiber. There is a wide choice of thermoplastic fibers. We have tested several of them in order to identify those that have an optimal contribution to the performance of the nonwoven, while allowing them to be reduced as much as possible.
For example, we have tested various blends with polyester fiber, which is the most used and produced fiber in the world. It has many advantages but remains a petroleum-based fiber. Our goal is to reduce its contribution by replacing it with milkweed fiber. Indeed, in addition to being of natural origin, milkweed fiber is lighter with a density of 0.3g/cm3 compared to polyester fiber with a density of 1.40g/cm3. We also work with polylactic acid fiber (PLA), a biosourced and biodegradable fiber under certain conditions, unlike polyester fiber. PLA has a density of 1.26 g/cm3.
Diversification of milkweed fiber applications
From the tested fiber blends, we develop insulators for different applications such as technical textiles or automotive. Several research projects are underway.
Depending on the chosen application, these insulators require specific functional properties such as abrasion resistance, washing resistance and compressibility. Each insulator is therefore unique. It stands out for its own fiber composition as well as its physical properties such as its thickness and density.
For example, Déborah Lupescu, textile engineer and doctoral student at Université de Sherbrooke, under the supervision of Mathieu Robert, holder of the Canada Research Chair in Polymer Eco-Composites, is developing, among other things, thermal and acoustic insulation nonwovens for automobile interior linings.
With its conclusive results, we can anticipate the emergence of bio-based nonwovens based on milkweed fiber in more than one industry.
To learn more, you can read the article published on formes.ca Milkweed Fiber – Sustainable Coatings Made in Quebec.
As we can see, the deployment of milkweed is a vast project. It is the project of an entire society… A great Movement !
Marie-Noël Breton
Entrepreneure agricole, passionnée par la diversité florale et la pollinisation, Marie-Noël Breton a la fibre de l’innovation ! Membre de la coopérative depuis 2017 et aujourd'hui chargée de projet, elle a pour objectifs de promouvoir cette fibre locale aux propriétés exceptionnelles et rassembler les industries québécoises dans ce projet unique au monde !
