100% Biocomposite

by: Mirjam Visser, 2012-03-27 15:56:56 UTC
Sustainability Aspects: Biobased fibers are ligher than glass fibers, saving CO2 in use of product phase, and biobased fibers bind better with the resins thus less energy is needed in production

Chair from Nabasco

Traditional composites are very expensive and hard to recycle. Landfilling of a glass fibre polyester sailing boat after the use phase is impossible within EU-legislation and incineration is difficult due to glass polluting the ovens.

NPSP Composite therefore developed first a material with a petro-based resin but natural fibers like flax and hemp, so that the composite can be incinerated. The next step was developing a natural resin. 100% biobased composites offers the option of lengthening the biomass chain by increasing the life of the products made from it before it is incinerated. 100% biobased doesn’t mean it is 100% biological degradable, it may take a while before that will be possible. So will the lengthening of the life cycle of the material by making it recyclable.

The developed 100% biobased composite, called Nabasco, is however already a big improvement on traditional composites. Not only is Nabasco a CO2-sink the CO2 emissions during production are also >40% lower than that of the conventional composites and even >70% lower than Aluminium. Altogether resulting in a factor 5 improved LCA.

Nabasco is used in train components, furniture, construction

Designer: NPSP
Manufacturer: NPSP
Category: Biobased materials
Websites: www.npsp.nl

Images

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Chair from Nabasco
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Chair from Nabasco
by Blijftdesign

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