Within the project, various carbonization processes have been set to produce carbon materials from hemp stalks and beech wood biomass with resulting properties that were fully characterized. The UV and visible protection properties were controlled by the particle size (the smaller the particles, the better the protection), other process parameters having little effect on this property. Calorific power and electrical properties were tightly linked to their elemental composition and microstructure, which were mainly governed by the pyrolysis temperature. Hemp biochar carbonized at 400–600°C were classified as lignocellulosic materials with a good potential for solid biofuel applications. Hemp biochar carbonized at 800–1000 °C displayed interesting electrical conductivity, opening opportunities for its use in electrical purposes. The electrical conductivity was related to the evolution of the biochar microstructure (development of graphite-like structure and changes in microporosity) in regard with the thermochemical conversion process parameters. Finally, the developed biocarbon could be used as well as an interesting filler to substitute the polymeric component of composites and coatings.
Coatings were prepared with 0, 5, 10 and 20 wt% biocarbon in tung oil and were left to dry for 4 weeks. In a view of transferring the coating recipe to the industry, modification should be brought to the formulation to drastically reduce the drying time. Customers mostly expect drying time between a few hours to a few days, as it is the case for classical paints. The coated samples underwent two types of weathering (artificial and natural). The sustainable coatings developed during the project displayed promising properties for wood protection, enhancing colour stability, water repellence and development of cracks. However, the FAÇADE project highlighted a drying time too important for potential customers expectations, which would necessitate to chemically modify the tung oil to accelerate the drying process. Moreover, the biocarbon effect starts to significantly influence the coating properties for ratio higher than 5 wt%, which already confers to the wood a strong black colour. Since the decrease in particle size increased absorbance in the UV and visible spectrums, more efforts should be done to find efficient process to downsize the biocarbon to nanoparticles, which would allow to use smaller ratios in the coatings for equivalent properties, and obtaining coatings with a lighter colour.
The results of the FAÇADE project were disseminated to scientific peers at an international level through six publications published in open access in peer reviewed international journals, plus two publications under preparation. The ER participated in 8 international conferences to present her results and develop other management and communication skills. The ER disseminated her knowledge through 12 invited lectures and workshops to diverse audiences consisting in young and experimented researchers, as well as pupils to encourage them to engage in science and scientific carrier.
To gain an easy recognition of the FAÇADE project activities by the audience, the ER created a logo to vehiculate the FAÇADE visual identity in any type of communication (Image 2). Through the project length, 2041 users connected to the FACADE website from sixty-seven different countries on every continent. The ER has organized fifteen monthly webinars starring international researchers. The “FAÇADE webinar series” reached audience far beyond the researchers of the host organization, gathering six hundred thirty-seven registered participants. Seventy-four respondents from twenty countries answered the “Black coating for wood surfaces” (Image 3) survey. Two promotional videos starring the ER were released for different purposes, and two initiatives proposed by the European Commission, #MyJobinResearch (Image 4) and Fellow of the week (Image 5), broadcasted the ER and the FACADE project.
