Final Report Summary - ECOPLAST (Research in new biomass-based composites from renewable resources with improved properties for vehicle parts moulding)
Executive Summary:
The main objective of the present project “Research in new biomass-based composites from renewable resources with improved properties for vehicle parts moulding (ECOplast)” is the development of novel biocomposites based on new biopolymers as base matrices, reinforced with natural fibres, nanofillers, mineral fillers and additives, adapting the conventional processing techniques most used in the automobile industry and other innovative processing technologies to have its properties tailored to be validated for its introduction in a vehicle.
Nowadays, it is clearly observed from the current panorama of environmental preservation a continuous definition and approval of growingly restrictive regulations and an increase in the market demand for products with a lower ecological footprint. Specifically, the automobile sector has been identified as one of the most involved in the adoption of protectionist measures towards the environment preservation, translating some of their major concerns in the increase of green materials demands.
Moreover, recent research efforts in materials favour the conception of new polymers as an alternative to traditional plastics, with eco-friendly advantages like their renewable origin or their biodegradability. In consequence, the demand of renewable materials in the automobile sector is undoubtedly increasing, and therefore, the adaptation of the plastic processors to this new situation is mandatory and it means a technically complex and challenging endeavour for this sector, taking into account the current situation of economic worsening and the high presence of SMEs.
In this sense, ECOplast aims to develop novel thermoplastic biomass-based composites through the synthesis of novel protein-based polymers (PBPs), through the conception and modulation of new molecular architectures in polylactic acid (PLA) and through the improvement of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) properties, adapting their structure and nature to automotive specifications. The technical performances of the developed base biopolymers will be enhanced by means of the addition of natural reinforcements functionalized to better tailor its properties of compatibility, dispersion, aspect ratio, etc., the development of novel fibrilar nanoclay based structures to optimize stability during processing, mechanical and thermal resistance, etc. and organic mineral fillers from residual resources to minimize the moisture absorbency and to improve dimensional stability.
To face this scientific challenge, ECOplast must accomplish the following objectives:
1) Validation of a novel thermoplastic and commercially-viable biomass-based composite suitable to meet the automobile requirements.
2) Reduction of the dependence on fossil resources.
3) Assure the maximum industrial relevance and economic impact, especially over automobile plastic processors SME’s.
ECOplast objectives are perfectly aligned with the topics addressed by the call NMP-2009-2.4-1
Project Context and Objectives:
The main objective of the present project “Research in new biomass-based composites from renewable resources with improved properties for vehicle parts moulding (ECOplast)” is the development of novel biocomposites based on new biopolymers as base matrices, reinforced with natural fibres, nanofillers, mineral fillers and additives, adapting the conventional processing techniques most used in the automobile industry and other innovative processing technologies to have its properties tailored to be validated for its introduction in a vehicle.
Nowadays, it is clearly observed from the current panorama of environmental preservation a continuous definition and approval of growingly restrictive regulations and an increase in the market demand for products with a lower ecological footprint. Specifically, the automobile sector has been identified as one of the most involved in the adoption of protectionist measures towards the environment preservation – Daimler Chrysler, BMW, Renault, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Fiat, Volkswagen –, translating some of their major concerns in the increase of green materials demands.
On the other hand, the European Union is stressing the importance of the acquisition and implementation of measures towards the environment protection, for instance stressing the importance of materials reciclability in vehicles at the end life, turning the current requirement of at least and 85% of them being recyclable and recoverable into a new minimum limitation of at least 95% from 2015. The Aho Report on ‘Creating an Innovative Europe’ recommends the development of friendly markets in a more targeted and prospective way, creating conditions to facilitate the translation of technological and non-technological innovations into commercial products. The Competitiveness Council agreed in 2006 to launch an initiative to promote a policy approach aiming to support the development of markets with high economic and social value, as the bio-based products one. The same Council also invited the EC in 2007 to propose further steps for the creation of lead markets and other measures to enhance market demand for eco-efficient bio-based products in order to exploit their positive environmental impact.
Another sign of the growth of the authorities’ commitment with the environment is the Green Car initiative from the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) proposed by the European Commission (EC) in the European Economic Recovery Plan, which supports the increase of sustainability and ecoefficiency in the transport sector. In this line and from the point of view of the European automotive manufacturers and suppliers – associated under EUCAR and CLEPA –, to be able to develop one of the main R&D priorities of Green Car initiative, electrical and hybrid vehicles, it will be indispensable to parallely develop sustainable
materials to replace depleted and contaminant existing ones. This necessity will be imperative in the near future, when the further development of these green technologies will lead to the decrease of fuel consumption and production, and consequently, the reduction of petrochemical plastics productions, since these materials are obtained from the last fraction of fuel products at the final stages of the process.
Moreover, recent research efforts in materials favour the conception of new polymers as an alternative to traditional plastics, with eco-friendly advantages like its renewable origin or its biodegradability. In consequence, the demand of renewable materials in the automobile sector is undoubtedly increasing, and therefore, the adaptation of the plastic processors to this new situation is mandatory and it means a technically complex and challenging endeavour for this sector, taking into account the current situation of economic worsening and the high presence of SMEs.
Several biomass based products are already on the global market10. Nevertheless, the great majority of their development is focused on film processing, so these materials could only be validated for less demanding applications like packaging and textile industry. Consequently, more research is indispensable in fields like injection moulding and thermoforming, the most widely used in automobile industry, in order to improve characteristics like thermal and hydrolysis resistance, stress at break, volatile emission responsible for annoying odours inside the vehicle and the material processing.
In this sense, ECOplast aims to be a feasible respond to those environmental concerns translated into imperative demands from the principal OEMs and protectionist policies from legislative authorities, currently detected by the automobile sector. Specifically, this project aims to develop novel thermoplastic biomass-based composites through the synthesis of novel protein-based polymers (PBPs) with smart thermoresponsive properties and obtained from residual carbon resources, through the conception and modulation of new molecular architectures in polylactic acid (PLA) and through the improvement of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) properties, adapting their structure and nature to automotive specifications. These two last base biopolymers are the commercially available ones with technical properties closer to the conventional petrochemical polymers already validated for its use in a vehicle and, furthermore, they are large-scaled manufactured, so the exploitation and economic impact of project results are assured.
The technical performances of the developed base biopolymers will be enhanced by means of the addition of natural reinforcements functionalized to better tailor its properties of compatibility, dispersion, aspect ratio, etc., the development of novel fibrilar nanoclay based structures to optimize stability during processing, mechanical and thermal resistance, etc. and organic mineral fillers from residual resources to minimize the moisture absorbency and to improve dimensional stability.
Another important field of scientific research will be the adaptation of conventional
processing techniques (polymers compounding, injection moulding and thermoforming) and other novel techniques to these new biocomposites. The challenge here will be to overcome the problem of properties distortion because of the extreme thermal conditions, the moisture absorbency and the machine degradation due to corrosion reactions and accelerated by the gases generated inside the screw.
Therefore, in balance, the main innovation in ECOplast project will be to combine innovations and new technical advances in these three fields, to find the perfect equilibrium between the optimization of novel base biopolymers, new fillers and fibres functionalization to reduce deviations of base biopolymers from standards, and optimum processing design to avoid the deterioration of mechanical performances and to allow a wide processing window, in order to meet the automotive requirements.
To face this scientific challenge, ECOplast must accomplish the following objectives:
1) Validation of a novel thermoplastic and commercially-viable biomass-based composite suitable to meet the automobile requirements for its integration in a vehicle, tailoring its properties through three strategic points:
• Research on novel protein-based polymers (PBPs) with smart thermoresponsive properties and obtained from residual carbon resources, specific modulation of the molecular architecture of PLA to obtain a stereoblock-PLA and a stereocomplex-PLA, and optimization of PHB performances to be used as base polymers.
• Functionalization of natural reinforcements (grafting, cross-linking, hydrophobization, etc.), development of nanoclay based structures and introduction of organic mineral fillers from residual resources to improve properties of biopolymers.
• Adaptation of conventional plastic processing techniques and exploration of novel processing technologies (supercritical carbon dioxide, integrated compounding – injection moulding, Palltrusion11, static filters, etc.) to optimize biocomposites processing and to enhance its sustainability and ecoefficiency.
2) Reduction of the dependence on fossil resources through the development of novel biocomposites with more than 90% of biomass content, based on biopolymers from renewable resources (PLA and PHB), enhanced with natural reinforcements and fillers (natural fibres, nanofillers, mineral fillers from organic residual resources, etc.).
3) Assure the maximum industrial relevance and economic impact of ECOplast results covering two plastic processes, injection moulding and thermoforming, that are the two most widely used in the automobile industry. Especially over SMEs that are plastic processors in the automobile industry, since this sector is composed by a high number of industrial SMEs.
Project Results:
Exploitable Result Nº1:
CO2 treatment in a twin screw extruder (TSE) to reduce VOCs content in PHB polymer.
Description:
The result is an adaptation of a twin screw extruder (TSE) consisting of the incorporation of an inlet port for CO2 injection from a pump and two vacuum pumps for the volatile components extraction from the polymer melt (figure 1). This adaptation allows combine two different technologies: polymers processing in TSE and supercritical fluids extraction (SFE), in particular supercritical carbon dioxide (sc-CO2) extraction, being possible to do the second one in a continuous way.
In Ecoplast project, this system allowed reduced volatile organic components (VOCs) present in PHB in percentages up to 80%, leading to a PHB polymer that fulfils automotive requirements.
The technology could be applied to other biopolymers to reduce odour or fogging.
Main innovation of the result:
The adaptation of supercritical fluids extraction (SFE) technology to conventional compounding processes allowed PHB material fulfil the automotive specifications in terms of volatiles emissions.
Progress on the State of art:
The use of SCF in extraction processes has been widely used in different applications, mainly in the food, wood and leather industries, where specific substances soluble in the SCF can be extracted. In the particular case of sc-CO2, it has been used in a great number of selective extractions, like removing fats from foods or essential oils, aromas or other components from plants and herbs. These extractions are performed in a discontinuous way. There are very few works referenced where SFE is applied in processes dealing decontamination of molten plastics. In this case, the technology is applied to a biopolymer to modulate the content of certain substances according to specific requirements of automotive interior parts.
Maturity of the technology:
The technology is already developed. It is only necessary to adapt the gas pump and the gas injection line to a conventional TSE, and it can be done directly at industrial level. TSE are characterised by its modularity and it is easy to adapt inlet or injection ports to incorporate liquids or gases. The main cost is the cost of the CO2 pump, which can be between 60.000 and 80.000 € depending on the configuration.
Market:
PHB producers, compounders, plastics converters.
Exploitable Result Nº2
Preparation of long-fibre PHB composites and long-fibre PHB composite
Description:
The long-fibre composite developed is based on PHB and flax fabric produced by impregnation of the flax fabric in the same moment of PHB sheet extrusion.
The process for impregnation is an adaptation of a conventional flat sheet extrusion line, allowing the feeding of the flax fabric in a continuous way to the extrusion calender, where fabric and molten PHB in a sheet shape are put in contact. Pressure and temperature of the calender rolls force the melt penetrate through the flax fabric.
The result is a semi-elaborated product, suitable for moulding in a hot platen press to obtain the final part.
The final parts are rigid parts with enhanced mechanical properties (impact resistance, flexural strength, tensile strength) to fulfil the requirements of the automotive industry made of materials from renewable resources. Other applications where high mechanical performance is required are possible.
Main innovation of the result:
The incorporation of long-fibres improves mechanical performance of the final parts. At the moment, natural long-fibres are being used as reinforcement of conventional polymers like PP. This development allows producing final parts 100% from natural resources.
Market:
Producers of automobile parts or technical parts
Exploitable Result Nº3
Programmable pulse generator
Description:
The exploitable result is a programmable pulse generator, whose main application is in the area of mechanical/electrical fatigue tests for all kind of systems. Nowadays, pulse generators, electric or pressure, are use for a wide range of applications: control of pneumatic actuators, valves, control of relays, power circuits, generation of electric waves, etc.
This equipment is designed to do pneumatic tests, electric tests, durability tests, combined with different kinds of aging, (durability combined with temperature, humidity, isolation and vibration).
The equipment (Figure 1) has a compact design so it can be easily adapted to pneumatic cylinders, by-pass valves, climatic chambers and pneumatic and electric actuators.
The principal characteristic of this equipment is that it does working cycles which requires an On state and an off state. For that purpose it generates a square signal in order to define the cycles of the signal.
Main innovation of the result:
This programmable pulse generator has all its components assembled in a portable compact case. Until now it was needed to use two different equipments to perform the same function.
Progress on the State of art:
According to the research made during the writing of the programmable pulse generator patent there aren’t any systems like this one on the market, the only possibility to obtain a similar system is to buy the different components, assemble them, and program the microcontroller unit.
Market:
Plastic component manufacturers Electric/mechanical Button manufacturers.
Mechanism manufacturers. Tecnological centers. Test laboratories.
Exploitable Result Nº4
Organoclays compatibles with PLA
Description:
The exploitable result is the formulation and fabrication of organomodified nanoclays that can be used as additive in the compounding of plastic materials based on biopolymers such as PLA to improve their mechanical properties to be used in the automotive industry.
These organomodified nanoclays are specially designed for that application.
Main innovation of the result:
The innovation resides on the formulation and fabrication process of the organomodified nanoclay. The combination of raw clay and organic modifier selection, clay purification, surface modification procedure and the specific formulation allows this nanoadditive to fulfil the requested properties of the final material for the selected application. No other filler studied within the project has performed better than the specially engineered nanoclay.
Progress on the State of art:
According to the research made during the execution of the project activity, there aren't any similar nanoadditives based on organomodified clays in the market that can improve the performance of biopolymer-based materials and pass the requested tests to be used in the automotive industry.
Market:
Biopolymer (PLA) producers
Biopolymer (PLA) compounders
Exploitable Result Nº5
Mixture of Nanoclays +n-PLAi
Description:
The exploitable result is the mixture of n-PLAi with a specially designed organomodified nanoclay to improve the mechanical properties of the polymer to be used in the automotive industry
Main innovation of the result:
The compounding process methodology is critical to obtain the desired improvement of properties when mixing the organomodified nanoclays with the matrix polymer. Nanobiomatters has developed a proprietary compounding methodology that allows the specially formulated organomodified nanoclay to show an optimal performance when mixing it with several PLA grades and in particular with n-PLAi.
Progress on the State of art:
According to the research made during the execution of the project activity, there aren't any similar based on n-PLAi and organomodified clays in the market that can fulfil the requirements to be used in the automotive industry.
Market:
Polymer converters
Biopolymer (PLA) producers
We did not quantify the market size within automotive applications.
The specific features are related to the enhancement of mechanical and thermal properties, dimensional stability, biodegradability and compostability.
Exploitable Result Nº6
Natural nanofillers (nanocellulose) in PLA and SELP
Description:
Apply of nanocellulose to nPLA and SELP. Nanocellulose was mixed for reinforcement of nPLA in amount of 2% using masterbatch containing 10% nanocellulose. For SELP-polymer mixing the nanocellulose was used as water-based gel form with dry material content 1.2-1.5%.
The masterbatch method could be suitable for nanocellulose addition to PLA.
Indication of reinforcement effect of nanocellulose in SELP sheets was found.
Main innovation of the result:
Our method utilised a masterbatch method for melt mixing of nanocellulose to PLA in two processing stage before injection moulding to products. The dispersion is not yet as good as in solvent casting, but can be enhanced in some extent with improved NFC addition methods and new screw design.
The usual existing solutions in literature for nanocellulose addition to PLA are based on solvent casting processes, where PLA is first dissolved and nanocellulose is added via solvent exchange to PLA after which a film can be processed using casting. This is a difficult method to apply in industrial process and utilises a lot of solvents (problem waste after use) and drying energy.
The mixing to SELP-polymer was made in water-based system without dangerous solvent and using a solvent casting method. However the whole SELP-polymer is new and currently produced only in small laboratory amounts. Using this method there was
Progress on the State of art:
By now no-one has succeeded commercially to use nanocellulose as filler/reinforcement in hydrophobic polymers.
Extensive research is going on in several places to combine nanocellulose with polymers and very promising results in laboratory scale, mainly related for water and solvent based applications or processing methods. E.g. ten fold improvement of PLA with <5% nanocellulose (Bulota http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/biobased/2012/10/09/nanocellulose-improves-pla-toughness-almost-10-fold/ )
New material was developed by CelluForce in Montreal, a joint venture of FPInnovations and Domtar, Inc. CelluForce has just completed the first plant to make NCC, capable of 1 ton/day. CelluForce presented information on NCC at the BioPlastek 2012 Forum, sponsored by Schotland Business Research, March 28-30 in Arlington. Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) is a renewable reinforcing fiber material derived from wood or other biomass. Pulp material is milled and then hydrolyzed to remove amorphous content. The resulting NCC is separated and concentrated into uniform, natural nano-particles averaging 100 nm long x 5 mm diam. NCC has been incorporated in PE, PP, and biopolymers (PLA and PHA), where it enhances mechanical and barrier properties, as well as abrasion resistance. NCC is envisioned as improving prospects for bioplastics in interior and structural automotive parts. The method how NCC is incorporated to thermoplastics is not mentioned. http://www.ptonline.com/articles/nano-cellulose-fibers-renewable-reinforcemens-for-plastics
SELP-polymer as such is new and so also the addition of nanocellulose to it.
For nanocellulose has been identified tens of uses from automotive to flexible batteries, strong and light materials, absorbent gels, filter material etc.
Market:
Manufacturers of fibre based bio-plastic compounds:
PLA: Bio-based and biodegradable materials for packaging (IM, extrusion, TF)
PLA: Bio-based injection moulded materials for automotive
PLA: Bio-based injection moulding materials for construction
PLA: Bio-based and biodegradable materials for consumer goods (IM, TF)
SELP: Bio-compatible biobased materials for medical uses
Exploitable Result
Functionalization of wood based fibres
Description:
Chemical and physical modification of wood based cellulose fibres (eucalyptus, pine, birch and HTTMP) to be more compatible with PLA and PHB polymer matrices and easier dosing to compounder.
Main innovation of the result:
Clear differences between fibre origin to polymer compatibility. Best fibre for PLA is eucalyptus (short and thin) and for pine (long and thick) for PHB. The VTT method for dry sheet form cellulose treatment is found to be a good method for cellulose pre-treatment for compounding process.
Fibre modification improves the tensile and impact strength properties, but modified fibres did not pass the odour test. However the odour is not so important in some other applications (e.g. packaging) than in automotive and these materials can be applied to somewhere else.
Progress on the State of art:
UPM Profi and Formi are main cellulose fibre based compounds used for several applications (e.g. tested in a Biofore concept car http://www.upm.com/EN/MEDIA/All-news/Pages/Biofore-concept-car-to-premiere-at-the-Geneva-International-Motor-Show-next-spri-001-Wed-13-Nov-2013-10-05.aspx ). The polymer bases in those materials are mainly polyolefin based.
Kareline PLAMS materials are PLA based cellulose fibre compounds used e.g. for musical instruments. The usability of that material in automotive is unknown. The compounding amounts are quite currently low.
The cellulose materials feeding problem for flax fibres, is solved by companies such as Ecotechnilin (PP-flax material) and Beologic (PLA-flax), but having no wood cellulose products in portfolio.
Market:
Manufacturers of fibre based bio-plastic compounds can utilise this cellulose fibre pre-treatment technique to produce new materials for applications below:
Bio-based and biodegradable materials for packaging (IM, extrusion, TF)
Bio-based injection moulded materials for automotive
Bio-based injection moulding materials for construction
Bio-based and biodegradable materials for consumer goods (IM, TF)
Exploitable Result nº8
Long natural fiber composites
Description:
Establishment of a continuous process to prepare PHB long natural fiber composites plates
Main innovation of the result:
So far long natural fiber composites were produced by hot pressing a natural fiber web with one or several sheets of PHB. This asked for multiple heating of a thermoplast that is sensitive to heat. In the new process the composites are made in a single step by using standard film extrusion.
Progress on the State of art:
The machine Krauss-Maffei producer developed a process in which the hot press is replaced by a hot rolling band. The product is called “organo metal”. It still needs multiple heating that is avoided by the new process.
Market:
The new composites show superior mechanical properties. The ones developed during the project could not be used in car interiors because of fogging by the flax fibers. It can be used in other products like trucks or large municipal bins, everywhere high impact strength is needed.
Exploitable Result nº9
Biomer P304
Description:
Development of a new PHB grade that passes car interior fogging tests.
Market:
The development focused on car interior parts in the project. However it is planned to slowly replace the existing P226 grade except for applications that are in used and that were tested with this grade (there are slight differences in the mechanical properties between P226 and P304).
Exploitable Result Nº10
Compounding of biocomposites based on protein based copolymers
Description:
The exploitable result is the know-how to compound new materials based on new tailored protein based polymers (rPBP) reinforced with nanomaterials.
The technology used is solvent casting using innocuous solvents.
Main innovation of the result:
The know–how to produce the composites is new, since the rPBP is also new.
The process is performed at low temperatures and uses innocuous solvents. It is completely independent from petroleum.
Progress on the State of art:
The know-how is consolidated, but the rPBP is not available in the market.
There are several research groups working on the development of biocomposites based on proteins, but not the one developed within the frame of this project.
The new biocomposites can be patented.
Market:
Biomedical, packaging and agriculture.
Exploitable Result Nº11
Four novel protein based biopolymers (PBPs)
Description:
Four novel protein based biopolymers (PBPs) with potential for application in polymer industry have been synthesised and produced. These biosynthesised materials are based on the naturally occurring fibrous proteins silk and elastin and display tailored mechanical and biological features, with in particular a high mechanical strength and improved flexibility. In contrast to other PBPs, those synthesised here contain specific amino acid substitutions which result in altered mechanical properties, including an increased Young’s modulus, plastic (rather than elastic) deformation and modified thermal properties (displays an acute hysteresis of its reversible phase transition).
The polymers have been processed into nano and macro structures such as free standing films, hydrogels and fibres. Our studies indicated good mechanical properties for use as additive and/or filler, in combination with PLA and nanoclays. In relation to their use in lower cost materials such as biodegradable plastics one of the principal limitations to their development and commercialisation is in the production costs and the lack of a commercially viable industrially relevant production and purification process. In an attempt to address this limitation, we have developed and optimised a scalable fed-batch production approach which enables a cost effective high level PBP productivity, greater than 50-fold higher than that reported in literature. In relation to the purification of the produced polymer, we took advantage of the known enhanced stability of these in developing an abridged, non-chromatographic downstream processing and purification protocol (acid treatment and ammonium sulphate precipitation). In contrast to the more commonly used purification with expensive and cumbersome chromatographic processes, our simplified non-chromatographic approach is more amenable to use at the industrial level. The production and purification processes developed are robust, reproducible and applicable to scale up to the industrial level. Indeed we have successfully scaled up the whole process (production and purification) to the pilot scale (500 litre fermenter) thereby further demonstrating the industrial potential of the developed processes and bringing the commercialisation of these novel polymers a step closer to realisation.
Main innovation of the result:
- Novel PBPs, recombinant silk and elastin copolymers synthesised, produced and processed
- PBPs successfully processed into films, hydrogels and fibres
- fed-batch production process for the scalable, high level biosynthesis of PBPs in E. coli developed and optimised (highest production of PBPs reported to date)
- two step non-chromatographic approach developed for the reduced cost scalable purification of PBPs
- Successful production and purification of PBPs demonstrated at the pilot scale
- Potential of PBPs in other fields, such as biomedical devices
Progress on the State of art:
- Production of PBPs typically carried out by batch production approaches with low production levels being reported and with scale up to the industrial level being difficult and uneconomical. The fed-batch approach developed here offers a more than 50-fold increase in the production level and is robust, reproducible, scalable to the industrial level and allows for a more economically viable PBPs production.
- Purification of PBPs typically makes use of chromatographic columns with an emphasis on affinity chromatography. This approach is more expensive and difficult to scale up than the simple non-chromatographic procedures developed in our study.
Market:
Advanced materials for automotive industry
Potential Impact:
Action Plan
As a result of the exploitation seminar that had taken place at CTAG facilities in june 2014 at least 3 results that have been identified as promising and have a "time-to-market" reasonable and interesting marketing expectations.
Those promising technologies are:
• Programmable Pulse generator (CTAG)
• CO2 treatment in a twin screw extruder (TSE) to reduce VOCs content in PHB polymer (AIMPLAS)
• nPLAi + Organoclays (NBM)
It is important that each partner commits to collect information directly from the potential customers, conducting a market test to explore if any of the potential users can validate the interest of the products and can return some feedback about them in terms of market, technology or price. As a result of this test, it can conclude whether the partners are on track or not to commercialize them.
Dissemination activities
Following are breafly summarised the main dissemination activities that have taken place during the project:
• 6 interviews have taken place on different TV and radio stations.
• 21 Posters were presented at scientific events thirteen of them had an international audience.
• Flyers were distributed in 6 events fourth of them were international events
• 12 presentations were made on different scenarios ten of them to international audiences, aimed to different kinds of public, scientific, industry, community.
• 11 press news were published in national news papers
• 14 publications were published in magazines, scientific magazines, and web sites, 10 of them were aimed to international audiences.
• Samples of parts made with the developed compounds were shown at some of the previously mentioned events.
• 1 official web page were news and results were published.
List of Websites:
https://www.ecoplastproject.com
The main objective of the present project “Research in new biomass-based composites from renewable resources with improved properties for vehicle parts moulding (ECOplast)” is the development of novel biocomposites based on new biopolymers as base matrices, reinforced with natural fibres, nanofillers, mineral fillers and additives, adapting the conventional processing techniques most used in the automobile industry and other innovative processing technologies to have its properties tailored to be validated for its introduction in a vehicle.
Nowadays, it is clearly observed from the current panorama of environmental preservation a continuous definition and approval of growingly restrictive regulations and an increase in the market demand for products with a lower ecological footprint. Specifically, the automobile sector has been identified as one of the most involved in the adoption of protectionist measures towards the environment preservation, translating some of their major concerns in the increase of green materials demands.
Moreover, recent research efforts in materials favour the conception of new polymers as an alternative to traditional plastics, with eco-friendly advantages like their renewable origin or their biodegradability. In consequence, the demand of renewable materials in the automobile sector is undoubtedly increasing, and therefore, the adaptation of the plastic processors to this new situation is mandatory and it means a technically complex and challenging endeavour for this sector, taking into account the current situation of economic worsening and the high presence of SMEs.
In this sense, ECOplast aims to develop novel thermoplastic biomass-based composites through the synthesis of novel protein-based polymers (PBPs), through the conception and modulation of new molecular architectures in polylactic acid (PLA) and through the improvement of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) properties, adapting their structure and nature to automotive specifications. The technical performances of the developed base biopolymers will be enhanced by means of the addition of natural reinforcements functionalized to better tailor its properties of compatibility, dispersion, aspect ratio, etc., the development of novel fibrilar nanoclay based structures to optimize stability during processing, mechanical and thermal resistance, etc. and organic mineral fillers from residual resources to minimize the moisture absorbency and to improve dimensional stability.
To face this scientific challenge, ECOplast must accomplish the following objectives:
1) Validation of a novel thermoplastic and commercially-viable biomass-based composite suitable to meet the automobile requirements.
2) Reduction of the dependence on fossil resources.
3) Assure the maximum industrial relevance and economic impact, especially over automobile plastic processors SME’s.
ECOplast objectives are perfectly aligned with the topics addressed by the call NMP-2009-2.4-1
Project Context and Objectives:
The main objective of the present project “Research in new biomass-based composites from renewable resources with improved properties for vehicle parts moulding (ECOplast)” is the development of novel biocomposites based on new biopolymers as base matrices, reinforced with natural fibres, nanofillers, mineral fillers and additives, adapting the conventional processing techniques most used in the automobile industry and other innovative processing technologies to have its properties tailored to be validated for its introduction in a vehicle.
Nowadays, it is clearly observed from the current panorama of environmental preservation a continuous definition and approval of growingly restrictive regulations and an increase in the market demand for products with a lower ecological footprint. Specifically, the automobile sector has been identified as one of the most involved in the adoption of protectionist measures towards the environment preservation – Daimler Chrysler, BMW, Renault, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Fiat, Volkswagen –, translating some of their major concerns in the increase of green materials demands.
On the other hand, the European Union is stressing the importance of the acquisition and implementation of measures towards the environment protection, for instance stressing the importance of materials reciclability in vehicles at the end life, turning the current requirement of at least and 85% of them being recyclable and recoverable into a new minimum limitation of at least 95% from 2015. The Aho Report on ‘Creating an Innovative Europe’ recommends the development of friendly markets in a more targeted and prospective way, creating conditions to facilitate the translation of technological and non-technological innovations into commercial products. The Competitiveness Council agreed in 2006 to launch an initiative to promote a policy approach aiming to support the development of markets with high economic and social value, as the bio-based products one. The same Council also invited the EC in 2007 to propose further steps for the creation of lead markets and other measures to enhance market demand for eco-efficient bio-based products in order to exploit their positive environmental impact.
Another sign of the growth of the authorities’ commitment with the environment is the Green Car initiative from the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) proposed by the European Commission (EC) in the European Economic Recovery Plan, which supports the increase of sustainability and ecoefficiency in the transport sector. In this line and from the point of view of the European automotive manufacturers and suppliers – associated under EUCAR and CLEPA –, to be able to develop one of the main R&D priorities of Green Car initiative, electrical and hybrid vehicles, it will be indispensable to parallely develop sustainable
materials to replace depleted and contaminant existing ones. This necessity will be imperative in the near future, when the further development of these green technologies will lead to the decrease of fuel consumption and production, and consequently, the reduction of petrochemical plastics productions, since these materials are obtained from the last fraction of fuel products at the final stages of the process.
Moreover, recent research efforts in materials favour the conception of new polymers as an alternative to traditional plastics, with eco-friendly advantages like its renewable origin or its biodegradability. In consequence, the demand of renewable materials in the automobile sector is undoubtedly increasing, and therefore, the adaptation of the plastic processors to this new situation is mandatory and it means a technically complex and challenging endeavour for this sector, taking into account the current situation of economic worsening and the high presence of SMEs.
Several biomass based products are already on the global market10. Nevertheless, the great majority of their development is focused on film processing, so these materials could only be validated for less demanding applications like packaging and textile industry. Consequently, more research is indispensable in fields like injection moulding and thermoforming, the most widely used in automobile industry, in order to improve characteristics like thermal and hydrolysis resistance, stress at break, volatile emission responsible for annoying odours inside the vehicle and the material processing.
In this sense, ECOplast aims to be a feasible respond to those environmental concerns translated into imperative demands from the principal OEMs and protectionist policies from legislative authorities, currently detected by the automobile sector. Specifically, this project aims to develop novel thermoplastic biomass-based composites through the synthesis of novel protein-based polymers (PBPs) with smart thermoresponsive properties and obtained from residual carbon resources, through the conception and modulation of new molecular architectures in polylactic acid (PLA) and through the improvement of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) properties, adapting their structure and nature to automotive specifications. These two last base biopolymers are the commercially available ones with technical properties closer to the conventional petrochemical polymers already validated for its use in a vehicle and, furthermore, they are large-scaled manufactured, so the exploitation and economic impact of project results are assured.
The technical performances of the developed base biopolymers will be enhanced by means of the addition of natural reinforcements functionalized to better tailor its properties of compatibility, dispersion, aspect ratio, etc., the development of novel fibrilar nanoclay based structures to optimize stability during processing, mechanical and thermal resistance, etc. and organic mineral fillers from residual resources to minimize the moisture absorbency and to improve dimensional stability.
Another important field of scientific research will be the adaptation of conventional
processing techniques (polymers compounding, injection moulding and thermoforming) and other novel techniques to these new biocomposites. The challenge here will be to overcome the problem of properties distortion because of the extreme thermal conditions, the moisture absorbency and the machine degradation due to corrosion reactions and accelerated by the gases generated inside the screw.
Therefore, in balance, the main innovation in ECOplast project will be to combine innovations and new technical advances in these three fields, to find the perfect equilibrium between the optimization of novel base biopolymers, new fillers and fibres functionalization to reduce deviations of base biopolymers from standards, and optimum processing design to avoid the deterioration of mechanical performances and to allow a wide processing window, in order to meet the automotive requirements.
To face this scientific challenge, ECOplast must accomplish the following objectives:
1) Validation of a novel thermoplastic and commercially-viable biomass-based composite suitable to meet the automobile requirements for its integration in a vehicle, tailoring its properties through three strategic points:
• Research on novel protein-based polymers (PBPs) with smart thermoresponsive properties and obtained from residual carbon resources, specific modulation of the molecular architecture of PLA to obtain a stereoblock-PLA and a stereocomplex-PLA, and optimization of PHB performances to be used as base polymers.
• Functionalization of natural reinforcements (grafting, cross-linking, hydrophobization, etc.), development of nanoclay based structures and introduction of organic mineral fillers from residual resources to improve properties of biopolymers.
• Adaptation of conventional plastic processing techniques and exploration of novel processing technologies (supercritical carbon dioxide, integrated compounding – injection moulding, Palltrusion11, static filters, etc.) to optimize biocomposites processing and to enhance its sustainability and ecoefficiency.
2) Reduction of the dependence on fossil resources through the development of novel biocomposites with more than 90% of biomass content, based on biopolymers from renewable resources (PLA and PHB), enhanced with natural reinforcements and fillers (natural fibres, nanofillers, mineral fillers from organic residual resources, etc.).
3) Assure the maximum industrial relevance and economic impact of ECOplast results covering two plastic processes, injection moulding and thermoforming, that are the two most widely used in the automobile industry. Especially over SMEs that are plastic processors in the automobile industry, since this sector is composed by a high number of industrial SMEs.
Project Results:
Exploitable Result Nº1:
CO2 treatment in a twin screw extruder (TSE) to reduce VOCs content in PHB polymer.
Description:
The result is an adaptation of a twin screw extruder (TSE) consisting of the incorporation of an inlet port for CO2 injection from a pump and two vacuum pumps for the volatile components extraction from the polymer melt (figure 1). This adaptation allows combine two different technologies: polymers processing in TSE and supercritical fluids extraction (SFE), in particular supercritical carbon dioxide (sc-CO2) extraction, being possible to do the second one in a continuous way.
In Ecoplast project, this system allowed reduced volatile organic components (VOCs) present in PHB in percentages up to 80%, leading to a PHB polymer that fulfils automotive requirements.
The technology could be applied to other biopolymers to reduce odour or fogging.
Main innovation of the result:
The adaptation of supercritical fluids extraction (SFE) technology to conventional compounding processes allowed PHB material fulfil the automotive specifications in terms of volatiles emissions.
Progress on the State of art:
The use of SCF in extraction processes has been widely used in different applications, mainly in the food, wood and leather industries, where specific substances soluble in the SCF can be extracted. In the particular case of sc-CO2, it has been used in a great number of selective extractions, like removing fats from foods or essential oils, aromas or other components from plants and herbs. These extractions are performed in a discontinuous way. There are very few works referenced where SFE is applied in processes dealing decontamination of molten plastics. In this case, the technology is applied to a biopolymer to modulate the content of certain substances according to specific requirements of automotive interior parts.
Maturity of the technology:
The technology is already developed. It is only necessary to adapt the gas pump and the gas injection line to a conventional TSE, and it can be done directly at industrial level. TSE are characterised by its modularity and it is easy to adapt inlet or injection ports to incorporate liquids or gases. The main cost is the cost of the CO2 pump, which can be between 60.000 and 80.000 € depending on the configuration.
Market:
PHB producers, compounders, plastics converters.
Exploitable Result Nº2
Preparation of long-fibre PHB composites and long-fibre PHB composite
Description:
The long-fibre composite developed is based on PHB and flax fabric produced by impregnation of the flax fabric in the same moment of PHB sheet extrusion.
The process for impregnation is an adaptation of a conventional flat sheet extrusion line, allowing the feeding of the flax fabric in a continuous way to the extrusion calender, where fabric and molten PHB in a sheet shape are put in contact. Pressure and temperature of the calender rolls force the melt penetrate through the flax fabric.
The result is a semi-elaborated product, suitable for moulding in a hot platen press to obtain the final part.
The final parts are rigid parts with enhanced mechanical properties (impact resistance, flexural strength, tensile strength) to fulfil the requirements of the automotive industry made of materials from renewable resources. Other applications where high mechanical performance is required are possible.
Main innovation of the result:
The incorporation of long-fibres improves mechanical performance of the final parts. At the moment, natural long-fibres are being used as reinforcement of conventional polymers like PP. This development allows producing final parts 100% from natural resources.
Market:
Producers of automobile parts or technical parts
Exploitable Result Nº3
Programmable pulse generator
Description:
The exploitable result is a programmable pulse generator, whose main application is in the area of mechanical/electrical fatigue tests for all kind of systems. Nowadays, pulse generators, electric or pressure, are use for a wide range of applications: control of pneumatic actuators, valves, control of relays, power circuits, generation of electric waves, etc.
This equipment is designed to do pneumatic tests, electric tests, durability tests, combined with different kinds of aging, (durability combined with temperature, humidity, isolation and vibration).
The equipment (Figure 1) has a compact design so it can be easily adapted to pneumatic cylinders, by-pass valves, climatic chambers and pneumatic and electric actuators.
The principal characteristic of this equipment is that it does working cycles which requires an On state and an off state. For that purpose it generates a square signal in order to define the cycles of the signal.
Main innovation of the result:
This programmable pulse generator has all its components assembled in a portable compact case. Until now it was needed to use two different equipments to perform the same function.
Progress on the State of art:
According to the research made during the writing of the programmable pulse generator patent there aren’t any systems like this one on the market, the only possibility to obtain a similar system is to buy the different components, assemble them, and program the microcontroller unit.
Market:
Plastic component manufacturers Electric/mechanical Button manufacturers.
Mechanism manufacturers. Tecnological centers. Test laboratories.
Exploitable Result Nº4
Organoclays compatibles with PLA
Description:
The exploitable result is the formulation and fabrication of organomodified nanoclays that can be used as additive in the compounding of plastic materials based on biopolymers such as PLA to improve their mechanical properties to be used in the automotive industry.
These organomodified nanoclays are specially designed for that application.
Main innovation of the result:
The innovation resides on the formulation and fabrication process of the organomodified nanoclay. The combination of raw clay and organic modifier selection, clay purification, surface modification procedure and the specific formulation allows this nanoadditive to fulfil the requested properties of the final material for the selected application. No other filler studied within the project has performed better than the specially engineered nanoclay.
Progress on the State of art:
According to the research made during the execution of the project activity, there aren't any similar nanoadditives based on organomodified clays in the market that can improve the performance of biopolymer-based materials and pass the requested tests to be used in the automotive industry.
Market:
Biopolymer (PLA) producers
Biopolymer (PLA) compounders
Exploitable Result Nº5
Mixture of Nanoclays +n-PLAi
Description:
The exploitable result is the mixture of n-PLAi with a specially designed organomodified nanoclay to improve the mechanical properties of the polymer to be used in the automotive industry
Main innovation of the result:
The compounding process methodology is critical to obtain the desired improvement of properties when mixing the organomodified nanoclays with the matrix polymer. Nanobiomatters has developed a proprietary compounding methodology that allows the specially formulated organomodified nanoclay to show an optimal performance when mixing it with several PLA grades and in particular with n-PLAi.
Progress on the State of art:
According to the research made during the execution of the project activity, there aren't any similar based on n-PLAi and organomodified clays in the market that can fulfil the requirements to be used in the automotive industry.
Market:
Polymer converters
Biopolymer (PLA) producers
We did not quantify the market size within automotive applications.
The specific features are related to the enhancement of mechanical and thermal properties, dimensional stability, biodegradability and compostability.
Exploitable Result Nº6
Natural nanofillers (nanocellulose) in PLA and SELP
Description:
Apply of nanocellulose to nPLA and SELP. Nanocellulose was mixed for reinforcement of nPLA in amount of 2% using masterbatch containing 10% nanocellulose. For SELP-polymer mixing the nanocellulose was used as water-based gel form with dry material content 1.2-1.5%.
The masterbatch method could be suitable for nanocellulose addition to PLA.
Indication of reinforcement effect of nanocellulose in SELP sheets was found.
Main innovation of the result:
Our method utilised a masterbatch method for melt mixing of nanocellulose to PLA in two processing stage before injection moulding to products. The dispersion is not yet as good as in solvent casting, but can be enhanced in some extent with improved NFC addition methods and new screw design.
The usual existing solutions in literature for nanocellulose addition to PLA are based on solvent casting processes, where PLA is first dissolved and nanocellulose is added via solvent exchange to PLA after which a film can be processed using casting. This is a difficult method to apply in industrial process and utilises a lot of solvents (problem waste after use) and drying energy.
The mixing to SELP-polymer was made in water-based system without dangerous solvent and using a solvent casting method. However the whole SELP-polymer is new and currently produced only in small laboratory amounts. Using this method there was
Progress on the State of art:
By now no-one has succeeded commercially to use nanocellulose as filler/reinforcement in hydrophobic polymers.
Extensive research is going on in several places to combine nanocellulose with polymers and very promising results in laboratory scale, mainly related for water and solvent based applications or processing methods. E.g. ten fold improvement of PLA with <5% nanocellulose (Bulota http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/biobased/2012/10/09/nanocellulose-improves-pla-toughness-almost-10-fold/ )
New material was developed by CelluForce in Montreal, a joint venture of FPInnovations and Domtar, Inc. CelluForce has just completed the first plant to make NCC, capable of 1 ton/day. CelluForce presented information on NCC at the BioPlastek 2012 Forum, sponsored by Schotland Business Research, March 28-30 in Arlington. Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) is a renewable reinforcing fiber material derived from wood or other biomass. Pulp material is milled and then hydrolyzed to remove amorphous content. The resulting NCC is separated and concentrated into uniform, natural nano-particles averaging 100 nm long x 5 mm diam. NCC has been incorporated in PE, PP, and biopolymers (PLA and PHA), where it enhances mechanical and barrier properties, as well as abrasion resistance. NCC is envisioned as improving prospects for bioplastics in interior and structural automotive parts. The method how NCC is incorporated to thermoplastics is not mentioned. http://www.ptonline.com/articles/nano-cellulose-fibers-renewable-reinforcemens-for-plastics
SELP-polymer as such is new and so also the addition of nanocellulose to it.
For nanocellulose has been identified tens of uses from automotive to flexible batteries, strong and light materials, absorbent gels, filter material etc.
Market:
Manufacturers of fibre based bio-plastic compounds:
PLA: Bio-based and biodegradable materials for packaging (IM, extrusion, TF)
PLA: Bio-based injection moulded materials for automotive
PLA: Bio-based injection moulding materials for construction
PLA: Bio-based and biodegradable materials for consumer goods (IM, TF)
SELP: Bio-compatible biobased materials for medical uses
Exploitable Result
Functionalization of wood based fibres
Description:
Chemical and physical modification of wood based cellulose fibres (eucalyptus, pine, birch and HTTMP) to be more compatible with PLA and PHB polymer matrices and easier dosing to compounder.
Main innovation of the result:
Clear differences between fibre origin to polymer compatibility. Best fibre for PLA is eucalyptus (short and thin) and for pine (long and thick) for PHB. The VTT method for dry sheet form cellulose treatment is found to be a good method for cellulose pre-treatment for compounding process.
Fibre modification improves the tensile and impact strength properties, but modified fibres did not pass the odour test. However the odour is not so important in some other applications (e.g. packaging) than in automotive and these materials can be applied to somewhere else.
Progress on the State of art:
UPM Profi and Formi are main cellulose fibre based compounds used for several applications (e.g. tested in a Biofore concept car http://www.upm.com/EN/MEDIA/All-news/Pages/Biofore-concept-car-to-premiere-at-the-Geneva-International-Motor-Show-next-spri-001-Wed-13-Nov-2013-10-05.aspx ). The polymer bases in those materials are mainly polyolefin based.
Kareline PLAMS materials are PLA based cellulose fibre compounds used e.g. for musical instruments. The usability of that material in automotive is unknown. The compounding amounts are quite currently low.
The cellulose materials feeding problem for flax fibres, is solved by companies such as Ecotechnilin (PP-flax material) and Beologic (PLA-flax), but having no wood cellulose products in portfolio.
Market:
Manufacturers of fibre based bio-plastic compounds can utilise this cellulose fibre pre-treatment technique to produce new materials for applications below:
Bio-based and biodegradable materials for packaging (IM, extrusion, TF)
Bio-based injection moulded materials for automotive
Bio-based injection moulding materials for construction
Bio-based and biodegradable materials for consumer goods (IM, TF)
Exploitable Result nº8
Long natural fiber composites
Description:
Establishment of a continuous process to prepare PHB long natural fiber composites plates
Main innovation of the result:
So far long natural fiber composites were produced by hot pressing a natural fiber web with one or several sheets of PHB. This asked for multiple heating of a thermoplast that is sensitive to heat. In the new process the composites are made in a single step by using standard film extrusion.
Progress on the State of art:
The machine Krauss-Maffei producer developed a process in which the hot press is replaced by a hot rolling band. The product is called “organo metal”. It still needs multiple heating that is avoided by the new process.
Market:
The new composites show superior mechanical properties. The ones developed during the project could not be used in car interiors because of fogging by the flax fibers. It can be used in other products like trucks or large municipal bins, everywhere high impact strength is needed.
Exploitable Result nº9
Biomer P304
Description:
Development of a new PHB grade that passes car interior fogging tests.
Market:
The development focused on car interior parts in the project. However it is planned to slowly replace the existing P226 grade except for applications that are in used and that were tested with this grade (there are slight differences in the mechanical properties between P226 and P304).
Exploitable Result Nº10
Compounding of biocomposites based on protein based copolymers
Description:
The exploitable result is the know-how to compound new materials based on new tailored protein based polymers (rPBP) reinforced with nanomaterials.
The technology used is solvent casting using innocuous solvents.
Main innovation of the result:
The know–how to produce the composites is new, since the rPBP is also new.
The process is performed at low temperatures and uses innocuous solvents. It is completely independent from petroleum.
Progress on the State of art:
The know-how is consolidated, but the rPBP is not available in the market.
There are several research groups working on the development of biocomposites based on proteins, but not the one developed within the frame of this project.
The new biocomposites can be patented.
Market:
Biomedical, packaging and agriculture.
Exploitable Result Nº11
Four novel protein based biopolymers (PBPs)
Description:
Four novel protein based biopolymers (PBPs) with potential for application in polymer industry have been synthesised and produced. These biosynthesised materials are based on the naturally occurring fibrous proteins silk and elastin and display tailored mechanical and biological features, with in particular a high mechanical strength and improved flexibility. In contrast to other PBPs, those synthesised here contain specific amino acid substitutions which result in altered mechanical properties, including an increased Young’s modulus, plastic (rather than elastic) deformation and modified thermal properties (displays an acute hysteresis of its reversible phase transition).
The polymers have been processed into nano and macro structures such as free standing films, hydrogels and fibres. Our studies indicated good mechanical properties for use as additive and/or filler, in combination with PLA and nanoclays. In relation to their use in lower cost materials such as biodegradable plastics one of the principal limitations to their development and commercialisation is in the production costs and the lack of a commercially viable industrially relevant production and purification process. In an attempt to address this limitation, we have developed and optimised a scalable fed-batch production approach which enables a cost effective high level PBP productivity, greater than 50-fold higher than that reported in literature. In relation to the purification of the produced polymer, we took advantage of the known enhanced stability of these in developing an abridged, non-chromatographic downstream processing and purification protocol (acid treatment and ammonium sulphate precipitation). In contrast to the more commonly used purification with expensive and cumbersome chromatographic processes, our simplified non-chromatographic approach is more amenable to use at the industrial level. The production and purification processes developed are robust, reproducible and applicable to scale up to the industrial level. Indeed we have successfully scaled up the whole process (production and purification) to the pilot scale (500 litre fermenter) thereby further demonstrating the industrial potential of the developed processes and bringing the commercialisation of these novel polymers a step closer to realisation.
Main innovation of the result:
- Novel PBPs, recombinant silk and elastin copolymers synthesised, produced and processed
- PBPs successfully processed into films, hydrogels and fibres
- fed-batch production process for the scalable, high level biosynthesis of PBPs in E. coli developed and optimised (highest production of PBPs reported to date)
- two step non-chromatographic approach developed for the reduced cost scalable purification of PBPs
- Successful production and purification of PBPs demonstrated at the pilot scale
- Potential of PBPs in other fields, such as biomedical devices
Progress on the State of art:
- Production of PBPs typically carried out by batch production approaches with low production levels being reported and with scale up to the industrial level being difficult and uneconomical. The fed-batch approach developed here offers a more than 50-fold increase in the production level and is robust, reproducible, scalable to the industrial level and allows for a more economically viable PBPs production.
- Purification of PBPs typically makes use of chromatographic columns with an emphasis on affinity chromatography. This approach is more expensive and difficult to scale up than the simple non-chromatographic procedures developed in our study.
Market:
Advanced materials for automotive industry
Potential Impact:
Action Plan
As a result of the exploitation seminar that had taken place at CTAG facilities in june 2014 at least 3 results that have been identified as promising and have a "time-to-market" reasonable and interesting marketing expectations.
Those promising technologies are:
• Programmable Pulse generator (CTAG)
• CO2 treatment in a twin screw extruder (TSE) to reduce VOCs content in PHB polymer (AIMPLAS)
• nPLAi + Organoclays (NBM)
It is important that each partner commits to collect information directly from the potential customers, conducting a market test to explore if any of the potential users can validate the interest of the products and can return some feedback about them in terms of market, technology or price. As a result of this test, it can conclude whether the partners are on track or not to commercialize them.
Dissemination activities
Following are breafly summarised the main dissemination activities that have taken place during the project:
• 6 interviews have taken place on different TV and radio stations.
• 21 Posters were presented at scientific events thirteen of them had an international audience.
• Flyers were distributed in 6 events fourth of them were international events
• 12 presentations were made on different scenarios ten of them to international audiences, aimed to different kinds of public, scientific, industry, community.
• 11 press news were published in national news papers
• 14 publications were published in magazines, scientific magazines, and web sites, 10 of them were aimed to international audiences.
• Samples of parts made with the developed compounds were shown at some of the previously mentioned events.
• 1 official web page were news and results were published.
List of Websites:
https://www.ecoplastproject.com