Developing cost-effective, bio-based raw materials for composite products

KTN is hosting a meeting on bio-design of sustainable composite materials on 26th February in York.

 

Composite materials – such as concrete, fibreglass and polyester – are part of everyday life. They combine two or more constituent materials, usually with differing physical or chemical properties, to produce a new material with its own distinct properties such as increased strength or durability.

The industry-led Composites Leadership Forum (CLF) has flagged up the opportunity to grow the current composite product market from £2.3bn to £12bn by 2030, but action is necessary if we are to produce a composite industry that is sustainable into the future.

Increasing the market penetration of composites will reduce environmental impact through light-weighting and durability, but there is a need for research to develop cost-effective bio-based materials to further reduce the environmental impact and de-couple prices from oil.

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KTN is hosting a workshop on Bio-design of Sustainable Composite Materials on 26th February in York in order to identify the technology needs and gap perspective and inform where the UK has specific leading position forming a series of recommendations.

Discussion areas will include:

• Extraction of high value chemicals derma lingo through catalysis
• Scaling up extraction of diluents from bio-waste sources
• Monomers for bio-resins
• Where do bio-based materials add value?
• Alternatives to petrochemicals e.g. Alternative resins/plastics (paper or bioderived) or Alternative Textiles for improved fire retardancy

Speakers will include KTN’s Dr¬†Rachael Rowlands-Jones,¬†Steven Brown from Scott Bader and¬†Composites UK’s new Sustainable Composites group, Sohail Hajatdoost from the Knowledge Centre for Materials Chemistry (KCMC) and¬†Dr Tom Farmer of the University of York.

You can view the programme and register for this workshop here.

 

If you would like to discuss opportunities and support for innovation in composite materials please contact Dr Rachael Rowlands-Jones (Knowledge Transfer Manager, Formulation).

 

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