Biobased adhesives for composites (BioAC)
The objective for this project is to develop renewable adhesives and thermosets with controlled mechanical properties for the development of lightweight, high impact composites that will result in a reduction of its carbon footprint.
Scientific and technological challenges
- Development of a generic approach for synthesis and development of the structure property relationships in adhesives and thermosets
- Development of composites using renewable components, including lignin or biobased carbon fiber
- Development of adhesives for the existing high performance materials, such as polyaramids, carbon and polyethylene fibers
- Development of light weight and high impact composites for transportation and sports gear
Contact: Jules Harings
Background
In this project, biobased adhesives and thermosets are developed based on the thermal curing of bis(2-oxazoline)s derived from natural resources. These bis(2-oxazolines) are cured together with renewable pyrrolidone based dicarboxylic acids, synthesized from itaconic acid and a series of diamines. The resulting thermosets absorb water upon storage, effectively facilitating a plasticising effect. As has been demonstrated in recent work, such absorption of water allows for enzymatic depolymerisation of the thermosets, opening up possibilities for biodegradation of the thermosets or chemical recycling of the individual components.
As of January 2018, the development of the renewable adhesives and thermosets performed in this project has been taken up in the Interreg project, Puur Natuur: 100% Biobased (BB100).