Total budget : € 1.826.072,16
Interreg financing: € 913.036,09 (50%)
BIO NIPU
The project's aim is to develop a 100% biobased and non-toxic polyurethane for end products in the textile and synthetic rubber industry. By doing so, knowledge centres and companies in the region may reinforce their leadership in the development and application of biobased materials.
The production of biopolymers for commercial applications is growing each year. Also the synthetic rubber and textile industries have started the transition towards using biobased materials. In this respect, the textile industry wants to manufacture at least 20% of its products from biomaterials. Biopolymers for textile coatings and synthetic rubbers (elastomers), inclucing polyurethane, are only available in a limited number of applications, on top of being not entirely biobased.
The Bio NIPU project will therefore focus on the research of alternative, non-toxic elements for the synthesis of polyurethane. Fully renewable resources, such as residues from sugar refineries and form the production of biofuel, natural oils and fats, are used to develop biobased polyurethane.
Project Partners
Centexbel, Maastricht University and Thomas More Kempen unite their expertise with the one of Limburg Urethaan Chemie (LUC) and Stahl International in view of developing high quality bio NIPU with the desired properties.
The sustainabilty of this bio NIPU will be assessed by means of a Life Cycle Analysis in order to identify the best composition for large scale production. This will result in 100% renewable and non-toxic end products for the textile and synthetic rubber industries.
