COMPOSITES
into useable biocomposite materials, which begins with the process of creating olive oil. “When olives are pressed during
the olive oil process, a solid residue or paste consisting of pulp shell and crushed olive stones remains,” she explains. “We separate the stones from the paste, as the stones are a hard lignocellulosic material which is truly multifunctional. In the past, it has been used as an alternative biofuel. Then, the stones undergo a process that we call micronisation, which involves drying the raw material and then carrying out several stages of milling, sieving and classifi cation to produce particles in very defi ned micrometre ranges.” The biocomposite market is very
strict when it comes to particle size, she adds, because this determines the powder’s texture, fl ow behaviour, density and aesthetics. “When the powder is incorporated into composites, the micron range can have a huge impact on parameters like dispersibility, viscosity, elasticity and surface properties,” Schilling adds. At the end of BioPowder’s complex
treatment process, pure, clean olive pit granules remain, which can be transformed into high-grade powders for use as fi llers and additives in a wide variety of composite materials.
BIO-BASED IS BETTER BioPowder’s whole approach is built on the circular economy concept, which represents a shift from the traditional ‘take, make, waste’ industrial model to a system that operates on the principles of reducing, reusing and recycling. “Bio-based composites have a
lower environmental impact than conventional composites because they are derived from plant-based raw materials, and they can also deliver better technical features,” Schilling says. “Our powders have been incorporated into a wide range of materials and applications as functional fi llers, such as within the polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC, polystyrene and PU industries. These materials are often used within injection or extrusion-based manufacturing techniques for high- tech parts within the automotive, shipbuilding and aerospace sectors,
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Bio-based composites have a lower environmental
impact than conventional composites because they are derived from plant- based raw materials
After treatment, pure and clean olive pit granules remain
and for biodegradable consumer items and construction parts. The main incentive for these applications is lightweighting paired with high hardness properties, and of course the fact that our powders consist of 100% bio-based content.” Another key application space is
rubber composites, Schilling adds: “Our powders can be added to rubber or thermal plastic elastomer materials to reinforce them with added strength, resistance, or certain surface texture properties. We also have applications within the coatings market, ranging from protective coatings to fl oorings, to food coatings and bio-based leather alternatives.”
Going forward, BioPowder will
continue to emphasise the importance of ensuring that resources are used and reused as eff iciently as possible. Schilling concludes: “To be truly sustainable and forward-thinking, there should be a more holistic approach to composite production. There are hundreds of thousands of opportunities to make new types of composites, and the good news is that more and more of these are being derived from bio-based sources.”
For more information visit:
www.bio-powder.com
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