ADDITIVES | NATURAL FILLERS
Using extraterrestrial crop waste for composites
ammonium polyphosphate, which was added using a side feeder. The filament diameter was continuously monitored using a laser-based measurement system and controlled to achieve a target diameter of 2.85 +/- 0.1 mm, said Schirp. The filament was then printed by Laser Zentrum Hannover to make test specimens, and mechanical and flame retardant properties were measured. “Printed test specimens achieved V-0
classification in UL-94 tests at 4 mm thickness and exhibited a limiting oxygen index (LOI) of up to 34 %. The peak heat release rate (pHRR) was reduced by 45-50% compared to non-flame-retarded PLA-flax or PLA-rayon composites,” reported Schirp. “Future work aims to increase the fibre volume fraction to further enhance the mechanical performance of printed composites. The project introduces a viable pathway for the development of flame-retarded, bio-based, continuous natural fibre composites suitable for reliable 3D printing.” A recent study by researchers at RISE PFI based
R&D institute RISE PFI recently joined forces with the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Space (CIRiS) in Trondheim, Norway to carry out the European Space Agency-funded BioStep project. “The BioStep project was based on the premise that future lunar
and Martian habitats will cultivate crops to provide food and oxygen for astronauts. However, only a fraction of the plant biomass is edible. Stems, leaves, roots, and other residual biomass represent a consid- erable resource stream that would otherwise be treated as waste,” said Gary Chinga Carrasco, Lead Scientist of the Biopolymers and Biocomposites research area at RISE PFI. “These inedible fractions contain cellulose-rich fibres that can be recovered and used as reinforcement in biocomposites. Rather than discarding these materi- als, we can convert them into a valuable manufacturing resource.” The project explored the feasibility of producing biocomposites
from two waste streams that are expected to be generated during long-duration space missions: inedible plant biomass from food production systems and discarded plastic packaging materials. The biocomposite compounds could then serve as feedstocks for the on-demand manufacturing of products in space. “By compounding recycled plastics with fibres obtained from inedible plant biomass, future habitats could transform waste into spare parts, tools, and other functional products whenever needed, using technologies such as 3D printing,” explained Chinga Carrasco. “This would represent a major step toward sustainable, autonomous, and resilient human exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond. At the same time, the technologies being developed for space have clear relevance for circular-economy solutions on Earth.” The BioStep project concluded that biocomposite production in space is technically feasible in principle, while also highlighting the need for further development of compact, automated, and resource-efficient processing technologies suitable for off-Earth environments. The project provides a roadmap for future research aimed at transforming biological and plastic waste streams into valuable materials for manufacturing in space and on Earth.
34 COMPOUNDING WORLD | September 2026
in Trondheim, Norway, on biocomposites comprising recycled HDPE, thermomechanical pulp (TMP) fibres, and kaolin clay demonstrated the potential of using concentrated masterbatches as an efficient route for biocomposite manufacturing. The results suggested that the use of masterbatch- es containing 60–80 wt% TMP fibres and clay fillers has the potential to reduce compounding costs by increasing the proportion of fibres and minerals in the formulation, optimize logistics by enabling transportation of higher concentrations of reinforc- ing materials from compounders to conversion companies, and provide greater flexibility for converters to tailor the biocomponent content in final products. More efficient transportation and processing may contribute to reducing the overall global warming potential of biocomposite products.
CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION: �
https://lignetics.com �
https://moxietec.com �
www.upmbiochemicals.com �
www.ottokrahn.group �
https://heartland.io �
https://fiberxproducts.com �
www.unique-polymer.com �
www.ytca.com �
www.sulapac.com �
https://printeriordesigns.com �
www.circdal.com �
www.wki.fraunhofer.de �
https://rise-pfi.no �
https://ciris.no
www.compoundingworld.com
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK AI
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