Material

Flax

By

Made in

Fibre 75 Recyclable 137 Textile 100 Flax 2 Glycerine 39 Sodium alginate 17 Water 36

Flax
Flax
Flax
Flax
Flax
Flax
Flax
Flax

Flax, one of the oldest and most versatile natural materials, has a deep-rooted history. Flax has been used to make textiles for thousands of years, and its importance in textile production was undisputed until the 19th century. Flax was valued not only for its mechanical properties, such as strength and durability, but also for its ability to thrive in a wide range of climates. This versatility made flax a key raw material for various crops and applications. However, with the Industrial Revolution and the rise of cotton as the dominant fibre, flax was largely forgotten. Despite its exceptional properties, flax was replaced by cotton in mass production due to the ease and cost-effectiveness of processing cotton.

The research approach includes investigating the traditional and modern applications of flax as a rediscovery of a material that provides a link between the past and the future. A particular focus is on the development of composite materials that preserve the natural fibres of flax while meeting the requirements of a hardened and lightweight material.
Unlike common industrial processes, this project uses unkempt and unspun flax fibres to create a carded product, preserving the fibres' natural texture and structure. The irregularity of the flax fibres is considered a quality, highlighting the organic origin and historical significance of the material.
Using corn starch as a binder allows the fibres to be recycled. Corn starch, a renewable and biodegradable polymer, offers an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic resins and adhesives. This approach respects flax's historical importance while creating a sustainable material solution.

Making process

The process starts with cleaning and carefully sorting the flax fibres. These are sorted according to their different lengths and prepared for the mould. The individual fibres are soaked in a mixture of cornstarch, distilled water, glycerine and white vinegar and smoothed out. The thin fibre layers are allowed to harden in the mould so that the natural structure of the flax fibres can be preserved.
By combining flax fibres and corn starch and drying them in a mould, the material can be processed not only in the flat but also in three-dimensional shapes.

Text submitted by the maker and edited by the Future Materials Bank. For information about reproducing (a part of) this text, please contact the maker.

Ingredients

Flax, cornstarch, water, glycerine, sodium alginate