Summary

An Austrian R&D company develops bio-based chemicals (antioxidants, stabilisers etc.), resins and adhesives from various feedstock and side-streams. These are suited as full or partial substitutes to fossil-based ones to reduce CO2-footprint of products. The entire chain from development of materials to prototypes and technical support of upscaling is offered. Companies/R&D organizations (user, developer and/or producer) are sought for tailored developments (technical/research cooperations).

Description

In order to reduce the use of fossil raw materials, products are increasingly being manufactured on the basis of renewable raw materials. Wood composites, biocomposites or paper laminates are gaining in importance for applications in the fields of construction, furniture, automotive, packaging etc. For the production of such materials, synthetic resins, additives or other chemicals are necessary in addition to the natural main materials (wood, natural fibers, paper, etc.). In order to achieve 100% bio-based products, these components have to be produced from renewable raw materials as well. The major challenges here lie above all in the expertise regarding the raw materials, the process development, the application in products and the upscaling in order to be able to deliver consistently high quality. Therefore, there are no large-scale products on the market yet. The Austrian R&D company is steadily active in the development of bio-based materials for the application in up to 100 % bio-based products. This requires on the one hand comprehensive in-house equipment to realize developments faster and on the other hand cooperation with scientific and in particular with industrial partners of any size. In the field of the development of green chemicals, resins and adhesives the R&D company gained extensive expertise and experience concerning natural raw materials, process development, development of suitable catalysts (if necessary), material characterization and application in various products on a pilot scale. A unique selling point is that they can offer the entire development chain from material development to the development/adaptation of a production process on pilot scale for products applying such green materials and even support for upscaling in the case of resins and adhesives. Besides the technical development, they can offer accompanying sustainability assessment from the outset. The natural feedstock and side-streams applied are very diverse; to mention some: * precursors and base chemicals (e.g. methanol, ethanol) from biorefinery processes * wood biomass (lignin, carbohydrates etc.) * hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) * vegetable oils * various biomass The main groups that are developed are: * bio-based aromatic building blocks * bio-based additives for polymer processing (e.g. antioxidants) * bio-based paper impregnation resins (e.g. for paper coatings, packaging) * lignin-phenol blends (for resins in the wood industry) * bio-based fire retardants * intermediates like bio-based phenols and furans Uncertainties on the effects of adhesive behaviour in timber products after long application duration in safety-relevant constructions require the development of rapid tests to predict long time effects. The R&D company can also offer support in such a case. Stage of Development: Green chemicals, resins and adhesives are steadily in development with various resources together with several companies for mentioned applications. Product samples for furniture applications (see picture) and applications for rotor blades (wind turbines) have already been successfully developed. The Austrian R&D company is looking for companies and/or R&D organizations interested in developing and/or applying green chemicals, resins and adhesives for tailored developments (technical or research cooperations).

Partner Sought

Specific area of activity of the Partner: All companies and/or R&D institutes interested in developing/applying green chemicals, resins and adhesives: - provider, developer and/or manufacturer of feedstocks and raw materials - developer and/or manufacturer of green chemicals, resins and adhesives - developer and/or manufacturer of products e.g. with wood composites (for applications in the fields of construction, furniture, automotive etc.), biocomposites or paper laminates (for e.g. packaging applications) Task to be performed by the Partner: the R&D company is looking for: - technical cooperation agreements: companies aiming to develop and produce green chemicals, resins and adhesives and/or apply them in bio-based products; the Austrian R&D institute is offering characterization of raw materials, development of formulations, generation of prototypes including testing of requested properties and technical support for upscaling. The partner has to provide detailed information - if needed with NDA - regarding aims (material properties, applications, etc.) and conditions of the development including necessary process and/or properties of product/prototype. - research cooperation agreements: companies and/or R&D organizations to enter into new R&D projects on green chemicals, resins and adhesives in funding programmes