French, Lebanese researchers probe 3D hemp composites for transport, other industries

French and Lebanese scientists are studying how a combination of hemp fibers and agricultural by-products can be used to create environmentally friendly composite materials for vehicles and other industrial applications.

The collaboration aims to advance the development of 3D-printed materials that perform well in wet conditions for lightweight, durable components that reduce weight, fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

The project pairs the Institute for Research in Civil and Mechanical Engineering (GeM) at the Saint-Nazaire University Institute of Technology in France with researchers at the Beirut Higher School of Engineering at Saint Joseph University, and the University of Balamand in Lebanon.

Focus on plant fibers

Researchers will combine hemp bast fibers with by-products from Lebanese agriculture using 3D printing. They will examine how moisture and water absorption affect the materials’ properties and long-term durability.

The French team is led by GeM researchers Amandine Célino and Sylvain Fréour. The Lebanese researchers are Melissa Said of Saint Joseph University and Anna Maria El Bayssari of the University of Balamand.

Previous collaboration between the researchers has produced models that predict how moisture moves through composite materials and how it affects their strength and durability. The new study extends that work to plant-fiber biocomposites.

The hemp project is funded by the Scientific Council of the Saint-Nazaire University Institute of Technology and Saint Joseph University in Beirut.

Lebanon and cannabis

Lebanon, which has a centuries-old association with illicit cannabis production in the Bekaa Valley, has no commercial industrial hemp sector or established fiber-processing industry.

Parliament legalized cannabis cultivation for medical and industrial purposes in 2020 in hopes of creating new export industries and attracting investment. Implementation has been slow, however, and no significant commercial hemp industry has emerged. Most hemp-related activity remains limited to research, feasibility studies and pilot projects, including university work on agronomy, irrigation, economics and industrial applications.