Composite materials

MACOBIO is part of the project cluster FEDER 2014-2020 - Low Carbon Footprint Materials - addressing the validation of natural resources for the production of novel biobased materials. MACOBIO is aimed at the design of 100% biobased composite materials, including innovative thermoplastic and thermoset biobased matrixes, reinforced with natural fibres.

On 2 & 3 October 2018, more than 100 participants from Belgium and abroad gathered at the Park Inn Hotel in Liège Airport to attend the 2018 international conference on COMPOSITES. The conference was organised by CENTEXBEL, the Textiles Competence Centre, and provided a platform to the participants form the industry and research world to discuss the exceptional characteristics of these new materials and to highlight the challenges of their production.

The aim of the project is to develop sustainable fibre reinforced composites that meet the flame retardancy requirements of the transport and construction sectors, meaning that the materials are difficult to ignite, have no burning droplets and have low smoke densities and toxicities.

Comp2blades aims to develop a hightech blade and an innovative production process for small windmills with vertical axes

The LIFE RECYSITE project aims to demonstrate recyclability and reuse of a new generation of high performance fibre-reinforced thermoset composites from renewable resources (bio-waste)

The LIBRE project will utilise lignin-rich side stream feedstock from the pulp and paper industry, blended with a biopolymer precursor fibre, to create a more resource-efficient and sustainable carbon fibre production process.

The RECY-COMPOSITE project addresses the problems related to the mechanical and chemical recycling of composite materials (pyrolysis and solvolysis) and the energy recovery if recycling is not possible. The applied research is conducted on the production waste stream of thermo-curing composites and of end-of-life in thermo-curing and thermoplastic composite materials.

Fibre reinforced thermoset composites (FRTCs) are attractive materials for high demanding sectors, such as automotive or construction, because of their lightweight and excellent mechanical properties.

The search for new high quality materials is increasingly focusing on the development of eco-friendly materials based on natural fibres and polymers from renewable resources. The industrial valorisation of natural fibres, such as flax, is growing rapidly in the border region of Northern France, Wallonia and Flanders. The region is also very active in the in the industrial production of bio-resins.

Ghent
Researcher Melt Processing Technologies