On the radar: Biomaterials take center stage in composites manufacturing

Exploration and development within the realm of biomaterials for composite applications are increasingly gravitating toward sustainable alternatives like biopolymers, natural fibers and bio-based materials, alongside efforts to enhance the sustainability of fiber production. This trend reflects a broader industry shift toward environmental consciousness and resource efficiency.

With a growing emphasis on reducing carbon footprint and mitigating environmental impact, the adoption of biomaterials holds significant promise for the future of composites. These materials not only often offer comparable performance to traditional counterparts but also present opportunities for enhanced recyclability and reduced reliance on finite resources. As industries seek to align with sustainability goals and regulatory mandates, the integration of bio-materials into composites manufacturing processes is becoming paramount for ensuring long-term viability and environmental stewardship within the industry.

In an effort to follow these trends, CW continues to cover a variety of these developments — all of which been tied to a comprehensive page on composites sustainability. Below are announcements or articles from the last four months that reflect the ever-increasing accessibility to biomaterial options or more sustainable processes:

• KCARBON and KIST have released a white paper describing the development and testing of biocomposites comprising lyocell fiber, polylactic acid (PLA) and wood, with promising results.
• The Alliance for European Flax-Linen and Hemp has partnered with ecoinvent to make a more comprehensive and transparent inventory database for the environmental impact of natural fiber-based products and services.
• The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research (DITF) is targeting more sustainable carbon fiber via low-pressure stabilization and bio-based precursors.
• A newly announced consortium under the “carbon-neutral agroforestry-derived resins to materials for automotive applications” (CARMA) project will apply ultrasonic processing to convert sawdust, the biomass byproduct from forestry operations, into high-quality lignin — a material being used to develop precursors for carbon fiber.
• The bio-based research institute Wood K plus is exploring bio-based SiC ceramics from wood polymer composites.
• Teijin has officially begun production of Tenax carbon fibers using sustainable acrylonitrile, which incorporates waste and residue from biomass-derived products or recycled raw materials that have received International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) Plus certification.
• A collaboration between OhoSkin and ReCarbon is working toward bio-based aesthetic materials for the automotive, marine and furniture industries.

For more announcements related to composites sustainability, click this link.