Future Fibres Lab

The Future Fibres Laboratory is a research and industry development platform for interdisciplinary research focusing on the processing of fibres, functionalisation and product development to promote the sustainable fibre processing industry in New Zealand.

Our research focuses on New Zealand plant fibres and transforming them into high-performance materials for high-technology applications, for instance supercapacitors and smart textiles.

The importance of natural fibre research can't be overstated. Climate change and the depletion of fossil fuel-based resources means natural fibres will play a significant role in a sustainable future.

About our work

  • Investigating the potential uses of New Zealand plant fibres like harakeke (NZ flax) and industrial hemp as high-tech materials to substitute non-renewable resources
  • Inspired to find solutions to long-term complex industry problems
  • Involved with natural plant fibres and animal fibres, including harakeke, hemp and wool
  • Economic and environmental benefits, including more sustainable manufacturing processes, longer lasting products and job creation
  • Emphasis on collaboration with industry partners, including Māori partners, local and international collaborators as well as government agencies

Research areas and projects

  • Fibre processing and product development
  • Decortication and degumming of hemp fibre
  • Hemp fibre-reinforced composites
  • Industrial hemp agronomy
  • Fibre functionalisation
  • Carbonisation
  • Functional carbon nanomaterials for energy storage
  • Smart textiles
  • Functional carbon nanomaterials from harakeke fibres for sustainable energy applications
  • Cellulose-based aerogels for oily wastewater remediation
  • Hemp fibre bioengineering
  • Influence of industrial hemp agronomy on fibre strength
  • Properties enhancement of PLA composite using pulverised hemp hurd
  • Functionalised cellulose nanofibres
  • Low-carbon bio-based building materials based on New Zealand natural plant fibre
  • Electrospinning of biobased nanofibres

Members

Theme leader

Theme members

  • Teck Nam Ang
  • Heng Wu

Students

  • Yitong Zhai (PhD)
  • Jack Mao (Master's degree)
  • Abhijeet Vivek Gaoli  (Master's degree)