Bio-oil based polymeric composites: value chain from synthesis to additive manufacturing

One of the major global challenges we face in the materials science will be the transition from fossil petro-chemistry based polymeric materials to the sustainable, renewable and carbon-binding materials. The ValueBioMat-project develops solutions to this challenge. Project is financed by the Academy of Finland, and it belongs to its Strategic Research program. The solution concept of ValueBioMat will be of disruptive nature and have great socio-economic impacts, therefore project is built on multidisciplinary collaboration. The developed concept will be based on materials value chain utilizing bio-based raw materials, such as plant oil derivatives. Another fundamental principle of the value-chain is the merging of the novel biopolymers with the emerging digital additive manufacturing (AM). As a novel breakthrough in AM, reinforced composites manufacturing will be researched. For a comprehensive view, the project covers also other topics, such as life cycle analysis, legal contexts and novel business models.