Rene Herrmann

Is it new? Bio Composites are not new, both natural and industrial. Wood is an example of a natural bio composite, see In the case the celluslose is the reinforcement hold in place by a biomatrix material, such as sap and other compounds An early industrial biocomposite in natural rubber reinforced by fibers of either natural or synthetic origin. For fiber see, and for natural rubber see, Reinforced rubber products played an important role in the automotive industry.

Why biocomposites? (start) Industrial made synthetic composites use ester or epoxy based resin systems and reinforcments made of either glas or carbon fiber for most of the products made. The making of synthetic fibers is at present time not limited by material resource. The process of making is however very energy intensive, see Drawing a glassfiber see fiber, specifically step 3: fiberization fiber Makeing of carbon fiber see, When limiting oneselfs to matrix materials such as resins, then the limiting factor is oil. (excluding rubbers/elastomers etc.) see,

Why biocomposites?(cont. reinforcment) Natural fibers such as cotton, sisal, hemp are readily available and processes are known to process these fibers into cloth. See for animal and vegetable fibers. Naturally grown grass types are one potential reinforcment type, premitting energy saving and light weigth structures. Observe that gras is a tubed structure, meaning emthy tube. Most significantly their potential production consumes far less energy then alternative synthetic fibers

Why biocomposites? (cont. resin) Resins can be made based on mineral oils or biological oils. The selection and production of biological oils is possible by agricultural means. Mineral oils can if needed be made be a high temperature, high pressure process using coal. This however consumes significant energy. Polymerization of biological resins is more possible by for example epoxytation. For naturally available resins see, and and for a solified exeample of natural resin see

Drawbacks in biocomposites The production of resin requires still energy and the process of solidification requires chemicals of some form that not necessarilly are naturally available. The natural bioresins will ultimatly have greater variation in their properties then synthetic resins. All bioreinforcements will suffer from rottening and degradation at a much faster rate then synthetic fibers. Limiting their application to products with shorter life time.

Advantages with biocomposites Light weigth structures from tubed reinforments Local production of fibers/reinforcements, recycability of products Green production policy is a sales argument Example of biocomposites are seen at, and =3 as well as pdf’s seen at courses home page. =3