Biocomposite processing

Technology
Technology details
Name:	Biocomposite processing
Category:	Material processes and technologies
Feedstock:	biomass-based material (like wood, dust, agricultural wastes or sidestreams)
Product:	Biocomposite

Compounding process

Interior carpeting of a car's door made by a biocomposite of hemp fibres and polyethylene

In Biocomposite processing bio-based materials are processed to composite materials. Normally, these materials consist of a polymeric matrix that can be fossil- or bio-based. Bio-based materials fixed in this are for example wood dust, natural fibres, straws, rice husks, nutshells and others. Best-known biocomposites are Wood-Plastic-Composites (WPC) or Natural-fibre reinforced materials.

Feedstock

Origin and composition

Biocomposite processing is a secondary process where a composite material is formed by a matrix (resin) and a reinforcement of natural fibers or filling with other biomass-based materials like wood dust, agricultural wastes or sidestreams from food processing like nutshells or rice husks. In principal, the matrix can be a bio-based or a petro-based resin, but normally polymers like polypropylene, polyethylene or epoxys are used as matrix material.

Pre-treatment

The retting process, carried out with warm inoculated water, has been evaluated as a potential method to modify the structure of fibers in order to prepare polymeric biocomposites.

Process and technologies

Types of biocomposites

There are several types of biocomposites on the market that normally have a fossil-based matrix with natural fibre reinforcement or wood filling. In principal also the matrix can be bio-based consisting of bio-based polymers like PLA, bio-PE, biogenic epoxis or PHAs.

Processing technologies

In the compounding process the matrix materials are melted and then mixed with fillers, plasticisers, additives and fibres to a homogeneous formulate that can be given into a screw extruder. This produces an extrudate that will be cooled down in a water bath and then cutted into composite granules. The granules can be used to produce several types of products e.g. by injection moulding or other material processing technologies.

Product

Products of Biocomposite processing are different kinds of biocomposites.

Post-treatment

• Cutting

Technology providers

Technology comparison

Company name	Country	Technology category	Technology name	TRL	Capacity [kg/h]	Feedstock: Food waste	Feedstock: Garden & park waste	Matrix material: Epoxys	Matrix material: PE	Matrix material: PP
Company 1	[Country HQ location]	[Technology category (if different sub-categories are defined this has to be specified here, the available categories can be found on each technology page under the chapter Process and technologies)]	[Technology name (the "branded name" or the usual naming from company side)]	[4-9]	[numeric value]	●	●	●	●	●
Company 2	[Country HQ location]	[(if different sub-categories are defined this has to be specified here, the available categories can be found on each technology page under the chapter Process and technologies)]	[Technology name (the "branded name" or the usual naming from company side)]	[4-9]	[numeric value]	●	●	●	●	●

Biocomposite processing provider

General information
Company:
Country:
Contact:
Webpage:
Technology and process details
Technology name:		Technology category:	Conversion (Material processes and technologies)
TRL:		Capacity:	kg·h-1
Application fields:		Matrix:
		Other:
Feedstock and product details
Feedstock:		Product:

info about company

info about technology

Zelfo Technology GmbH

Biocomposite processing provider

General information
Company:	Zelfo Technology GmbH
Country:	Germany
Contact:	Grégoire de Vilmorin
Webpage:	www.zelfo-technology.com
Technology and process details
Technology name:	Natural Fibre Engineering	Technology category:	Conversion (Material processes and technologies)
TRL:	9	Capacity:	500 to 2000 kg·h-1
Application fields:	Moulded Fibre: Fibre Boards	Matrix:
		Other:
Feedstock and product details
Feedstock:	Cellulosic (virgin or recycled) and ligno-cellulosic (agro-residues) sources	Product:	Self-Binding fibres

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