Circular production of biodegradable hemp fibre composite components (FALCON)
Funding:
FFG - The Austrian Research Promotion Agency
Funding period: 01.10.2024 - 31.03.2027
Project description:
The FALCON project aims to contribute to environmentally friendly mobility by using sustainable materials in vehicle construction. The resource efficiency of the components used is to be increased and material cycles closed.
Together with the project partners, biodegradable plastic components are being developed for vehicle interiors. These components are to be designed according to recycling principles. In other words, so that they can be repaired and recycled in the best possible way. They will be made of hemp fibres with a material matrix of polylactides (PLA). Hemp was chosen as the main component as it has suitable mechanical properties and can also be grown in a very environmentally friendly and regional way. By utilising the hemp stalks, which have hardly been used to date, this contributes to waste avoidance and resource efficiency. PLA was chosen as the matrix material because it is biodegradable, can presumably be easily reused and is considered one of the strongest biodegradable plastics.
In addition to the production of components, the project will also investigate the ecological and social impact of the biocomposite component and how secondary raw materials can be recovered at the end of its life through recycling processes in order to close the material cycle.
Composites made from hemp and PLA are currently not available on the market. As a growing demand for bioplastics is expected in the coming years, a comprehensive analysis of the advantages and disadvantages as well as the possibilities and limitations of the material is of great importance.
Project partners:
Contact:
University of Innsbruck
Teresa Weber
Technikerstrasse 13
6020 Innsbruck
teresa.weber@uibk.ac.at