DTU Wind Energy is part of the newly launched Horizon 2020 project BIO4SELF. Within this innovation project and as a part of a European consortium DTU Wind Energy will contribute to the development of novel bio based composites for structural applications. In so doing, the project contributes to future more sustainable materials for wind turbine blades.
The BIO4SELF project aims at creating bio based composites with unprecedented stiffness. This is to be done by combining the bio based plastic material PLA (polylactic acid or polylactate, the largest used biopolymer) with a bio-LCP (Liquid Crystalline Polymer). Senior Researcher from DTU Wind Energy, Bo Madsen, explains that the ambition is to create an extra reinforcement level of the material. In addition, the temperature resistance of PLA and its durability is expected to be improved – the latter by adding well-chosen anti-hydrolysis agents. Furthermore, self-cleaning properties of the composites will be attempted via photocatalytic polymers. And, in order to achieve self-healing and self-sensing properties of the composites, tailored microcapsules and deformation detecting nanoscale fibres are going to be used.
The potential of the bio based composites is to be shown by creating advanced prototypes for automotive and home appliances. “In this way, we are pursuing cost-efficient production of fully bio based composites – and meeting the demand for high technical performances and sustainability”, Bo says.
DTU Wind Energy’s Section of Composites and Materials Mechanics will contribute to the project by leading the work package on manufacturing, characterisation and mechanical testing of the developed bio based composites, coupled to multiscale modelling.
The BIO4SELF consortium is strongly industry driven, including 5 large enterprises and 5 SMEs. The consortium is completed with the participation of three universities and three research centres. In this way BIO4SELF covers all required expertise and infrastructure from academic, applied research, as well as industry from ten different EU countries.