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Research project

The project will use a feasibility study to identify the potential for substituting petrochemical plastics in the engine compartment with bio-based plastics and composites. In order to find new, technically demanding fields of application for bio-based plastics, it is necessary to close the existing property gaps.

The aim of the project is to integrate as early as possible environmental factors in the selection of materials with the simplest possible approach in the design process. Furthermore, usable elements from already known methods of sustainability assessment are to be identified. Further they are developed in such a way that an application-oriented, yet robust method is tailor-made for life cycle assessment of bio-based materials.

Granulate materials, source: IfBB
Source: IfBB

The goal of the joint project "KaVe" (coffee substitute composite material) is to develop a high-quality bio-based composite material based on coffee grounds. Coffee grounds are used primarily as fillers and colouring agents, thereby substituting fossil-based polymers and colour additives and thus saving considerable amounts of unsaturated hydrocarbon compounds from petroleum and partly from coal and natural gas.

Plastics technology centre IfBB/Hofzet, Source: IfBB
Source: IfBB

The IfBB at Hanover University of Applied Sciences is developing new biopolymer materials in close collaboration with the Application Center for Wood Fiber Research HOFZET (Fraunhofer WKI) and offers a wide range of processing and testing methods in the field of bioplastics and hybrid (bio) fibre composite materials.

Source: abc GmbH
Source: abc GmbH

In many areas, agricultural, cellulose-containing residues in the form of residual raw material are extensively exploited for energy by firing or biologically as fodder. While electricity, heat and power are being generated that way, at the same time material values, i.e. raw materials are destroyed. This not only leads to increased air pollution and reduced quality, but it also prevents the return of such residues into the economic cycle as high-quality products (upcycling). The aim of this project is to create opportunities to redirect residue flows in such a way that they are processed into sustainable and high-quality biocomposite materials in order to make them available to the energy sector as needed.