• Home
  • Online Courses
  • Natural Fibers- Sustainable reinforcement for Thermoplastics (Compounding, Processing & Trends)
Sustainability

Natural Fibers- Sustainable reinforcement for Thermoplastics (Compounding, Processing & Trends)

Natural Fibers- Sustainable reinforcement for Thermoplastics (Compounding, Processing & Trends)
Language: English
Length: 90 min
Oct 23, 2025 03:00 PM
55 days to go Set Alert
Check your local time

Course Description

Solve natural fibers compounding issues (high moisture absorption, low thermal stability…) and achieve as good performance as with traditional reinforcing agents.

In this simulated live Luis Roca will share:
  • best practices to improve your extruder feeding rate as well as the dispersion & compatibilization of natural fibers within the composite matrix.
  • Latest economic viability around the world along with your future roadmap based on polymers & applications.
4
106 Reviews
164+
Students
Intermediate
Level
Luis Roca
Luis Roca
AIMPLAS
0 courses

Luis Roca is the Head of the Compounding Department at AIMPLAS. He is an experienced polymer researcher specializing in compounding.

Throughout his career, Luis has worked as an R&D project developer, either as the lead or supporting researcher, collaborating with plastic companies to modify or enhance polymer properties across regional, national, and European projects. He has contributed to various projects involving nanomaterials, biopolymers, flame retardancy, natural fibers, electrical conductivity, and recycling.

With over 15 years of experience in processing a wide range of polymers—including commodity plastics, starch-based biopolymers, technical polymers, and high-performance materials—Luis has also delivered more than 3,000 hours of training courses to companies in areas such as compounding, additives, fillers, and injection molding. Additionally, he has presented at numerous seminars organized by AIMPLAS and at various conferences related to plastic modification and recycling.

See Tutor Profile
Why should you view this course?

Natural fibers offer exciting opportunities for new business driven by sustainability, environmental and cost advantages. Yet, thermal degradation, moisture intake is still a frequent challenge among compounders.

Join the next online course and learn how you can match the performance set by traditional reinforcing agents:

  1. Save time reaching your requirements (low moisture intake, thermal stability, odors...) with natural fibers by wisely adjusting compounding parameters (screw profile, melt temperature...).

  2. Fine-tune your strategy by adjusting natural fiber concentration, length, type (flax, hemp, kenaf...) depending on your bioplastic.

  3. Get expert insight on processing tips, equipment requirements and basic formulations for polypropylene, polyamide, polyethylene, bioplastics… using natural fiber reinforcements.

Who should join this course?

  • Compounders who need practical support to work with natural fibers.

  • Molders and Designers who want to clarify the advantages and limitations of biocomposites for their future developments.

  • R&D professionals at Bioplastic suppliers, End-Users, Material Suppliers, Converters with an interest in natural fibers and biocomposites.

  • Natural fibers suppliers who have an interest in working with the plastic industry.

  • OEMs in electronics, home appliances, automotives, etc.

  • Complete the course and (unlock your personalized certificate)– your badge of accomplishment awaits!

  • This course is suitable for intermediate level proficiency
    Intermediate
Questions you will be able to answer after this course:

  1. Which natural fiber types and formats best fit my target resin and
    properties and what handling/cost trade-offs do they bring?

  2. How do I set a compounding methodology that preserves fiber integrity while
    achieving uniform dispersion and compatibilization?

  3. What formulation patterns (typical compounds/additivities) help me balance
    stiffness, impact, and processing for my application?

  4. How do I stabilize fiber feeding for low-bulk-density fibers and maintain
    throughput on the extruder?

  5. How can I minimize fiber degradation (thermal/mechanical) and manage viscosity
    to avoid defects during compounding?

  6. What are practical ways to reduce odors/volatiles from natural fibers during
    processing without hurting performance?

  7. Which injection molding and extrusion settings/considerations matter most for
    fiber-reinforced thermoplastics in production?

  8. How do economics and regional viability influence polymer/fiber choices, and
    what does a roadmap by application (auto, E&E) look like?

Course Outline

The following sections will be covered:

Natural fibres as sustainable material

  • Sustainability and circularity of NNFF
  • Alternative for synthetic fibres and mineral fillers

Natural Fibres Market and trends

  • World Economic scenario
  • Market forecasting
  • Future for natural fibres
  • Polymers & Applicability

Natural fibres compounding

  • Fibre types and formats
  • Compounding methodology
  • Typical compounds and formulations
  • Viscosities
  • Other Additivities

Process Troubleshooting

  • Fibre feeding
  • Fibre degradation and thermal stability
  • Odours and volatiles
  • Fibre dispersion

Final processing and case studies

  • Injection moulding and extrusion considerations
  • Case studies in automotive and electric electronics
Show More
30 min Q & As for this course
Interact directly with your tutor and clarify your doubts
  1. 30 mins per session for Questions and Answers
  2. Clarify your doubts.
  3. If your questions are not answered, dont worry you will recieve tutor’s reply via email after sessions.
Natural Fibers- Sustainable reinforcement for Thermoplastics (Compounding, Processing & Trends)
€299
Currency Converter
Course access options
Learning as a team? Checkout our Credit Options

Share this Course

Share this Course

https://courses.specialchem.com/products/natural-fibers-sustainable-reinforcement-for-thermoplastics-compounding-processing-trends