Flax (Linum usitatissimum) was domesticated around 10,000 years ago. With delicate blue flowers on display from April to June, it is an important industrial plant, grown for its fibres, seeds and linseed oil.
A versatile textile
Linen is woven into the fabric of human societies: from its cultivation by Egyptians 5,000 years ago to wrap mummies, to its industrialisation in Europe from the 16th century for making textiles for clothing, to innovations in contemporary France for technical applications such as lightweight car components.
By studying old and modern linen textiles, we can map how and why its processing, properties and uses evolved over time and between cultures, helping to achieve better quality and sustainability today.
Flax fibre is produced from the skin of the plant’s stems in a labour-intensive process of stripping, controlled rotting, drying and combing.
Shaping a sustainable future
Flax has an excellent material profile: much stiffer and stronger by weight than steel, and incredible sound and vibration absorption in comparison to glass fibres – and it absorbs carbon dioxide during its growth. Through designing, making and testing, we explore how these natural fibres can replace synthetic materials for the manufacture of simple products such as plant pots, or high-performance engineering components such as wind turbine blades.
Darshil Shah (Department of Architecture)
Darshil’s research at the Centre for Natural Material Innovation aims to replace man-made materials such as concrete, metals and plastics with engineered timber, bamboo and natural fibres. He works with scientists, designers and engineers to understand the relationships between materials, society, technology, history and nature.
Next: Daniel Fuks (White Lupin)
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